Rachael Gunn

Last updated

Rachael Gunn
Born
Rachael Louise Gunn

(1987-09-02) 2 September 1987 (age 36)
Hornsby, New South Wales, Australia
Other namesRaygun
Academic background
Education Macquarie University (BA, PhD)
Thesis Deterritorializing Gender in Sydney's Breakdancing Scene: A B-girl's Experience of B-boying  (2017)
Doctoral advisorDiane Hughes

Rachael Louise Gunn (born 2 September 1987), known competitively as Raygun, is an Australian academic and competitive breakdancer. She is a lecturer in the Department of Media, Communications, Creative Arts, Language and Literature at Macquarie University Faculty of Arts. Gunn competed in breaking at the 2024 Summer Olympics, the sport's debut at the Games, but received a score of zero and did not progress past the first round.

Contents

Early life and education

Rachael Louise Gunn [1] was born on 2 September 1987 [2] in Hornsby, New South Wales. [3] She danced as a child, and was trained in ballroom, tap, and jazz styles. [3] [4]

Gunn attended Barker College [5] before enrolling at Macquarie University, where she completed a bachelor's degree in contemporary music in 2009 and a PhD in cultural studies in 2017. [6] Her PhD thesis, titled Deterritorializing Gender in Sydney's Breakdancing Scene: A B-girl's Experience of B-boying, explored "the intersection of gender and Sydney's breaking culture". [3] [7] [1]

Dance career

Before breakdancing, Gunn practised jazz, tap, and ballroom dancing, and competed in the latter. [8] Her boyfriend, later husband, had been breakdancing for 10 years and encouraged her to try it. [2] She began breakdancing in the early 2010s, when she was in her mid-twenties. [3] [4] Gunn paused competitive breakdancing career to complete her PhD, returning to competitions in 2018. [4]

Gunn performs under the nickname Raygun, which is sometimes prefixed with the descriptor b-girl. [6] She is coached by her husband, Samuel Free, [9] and says that she trains three to four hours a day. [10]

Gunn ranked 2nd in the Open Bgirl Ranking in 2022 [11] and topped the ranking in 2023 in Australia [12] as well as winning or coming in the top three at many Australian breaking events over the past five to ten years. [13] She represented Australia at the World Breaking Championships in Paris (2021), Seoul (2022), and Leuven (2023). [6] [3] In 2023, she won the Oceania Breaking Championships, securing her spot in the 2024 Summer Olympics according to the qualifying rules. [3] [4]

2024 Olympics

In the breaking event at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Gunn did not receive any points from the judges in each of her three round-robin battles against her opponents. [14] [lower-alpha 1] She was eliminated at the round-robin stage after being beaten by Logistx (US), Syssy (France), and Nicka (Lithuania). [16] [17] After her performance and outfit, which did not match her competitors' street style, [18] [19] were ridiculed on social media, she shared a quote on Instagram: "don't be afraid to be different, go out there and represent yourself, you never know where that's gonna take you". [20] She stated that she could not compete athletically with her younger rivals, [21] explaining in an interview afterwards: [8]

I was never going to beat these girls on what they do best, the dynamic and the power moves, so I wanted to move differently, be artistic and creative... I was always the underdog and wanted to make my mark in a different way.

In response to the mockery, Team Australia Chef de Mission, Anna Meares, issued a statement supporting Gunn and condemning what she called "trolls and keyboard warriors". [22] Martin Gilian, the Head Olympic breaking judge, said that Raygun had done exactly what breaking is supposed to be about: "originality and bringing something new to the table and representing your country or region", which she achieved with her kangaroo hop. [23] He added that the breaking community stood behind her. The World DanceSport Federation also offered the support of their safeguarding officer in case Gunn was experiencing any mental health issues due to the media attention. [24] [25] [26]

In the aftermath of the event, false rumours spread that Gunn's husband, Free, was a national coach involved in the Australian team selection and a judge in the Oceania Breaking Championships through which Gunn qualified. However, the Oceania qualifier did not have Free nor any other Australians on its judging panel, used the same rules as the Paris games, and was open to everyone. [27] An anonymous petition on Change.org, calling for an investigation into the conduct of Gunn, Anna Meares, and the selection process, garnered thousands of signatures. This petition was based partly on the above misinformation and included other unsubstantiated allegations. [28] [29] [30] Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) chief executive Matt Carroll demanded the petition be immediately withdrawn, stating it amounted to "bullying and harassment and is defamatory" and that "The AOC is particularly offended by the affront to our Chef de Mission, Anna Meares". [31] On 15 August 2024, Raygun posted a video on social media talking of the devastating effect that the trolling and hate expressed on social media had had on her and her family, and asked media to stop harassing her family, friends, and the Australian and broader breaking community. She said that she had taken her entry seriously and "worked my butt off preparing for the Olympics". [32]

Academic career

Gunn is a lecturer at Macquarie University Faculty of Arts in the Department of Media, Communications, Creative Arts, Language and Literature. [6] [3]

Her research focuses on breaking, street dance, hip-hop and youth culture, and gender and politics. She is a member of the Macquarie University Performance and Expertise Research Centre. Her teachings span diverse fields, including media, creative industries, music, dance, cultural studies, and work-integrated learning. [6]

Personal life

Gunn met her husband, fellow breakdancer Free, at university in 2008. [9]

Publications

Gunn has published five peer-reviewed articles since 2016. [33] Some of her papers are:

See also

Footnotes

  1. ↑ A note on judging: "A panel of nine judges score each battle and every round based on five criteria: technique, vocabulary, execution, musicality and originality. Each category accounts for 20% of the final score. Judges use a digital slider to score battles. The slider shifts in real-time toward the breaker who is outperforming the opposing dancer in a specific category". Each round leaves one of the dancers victorious. There was a panel of five judges at the Paris Olympics. [15] For a fuller explanation of how points are allocated, see here and here.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mel B</span> British singer and TV personality

Melanie Janine Brown, commonly known as Mel B or Melanie B, is an English singer, songwriter, television personality, and actress. She rose to fame in the mid 1990s as a member of the pop girl group the Spice Girls, in which she was nicknamed Scary Spice. With over 100 million records sold worldwide, the group became the best-selling female group of all time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Breakdancing</span> Style of street dance

Breakdancing or breaking, also called b-boying or b-girling (women) is a style of street dance originated by African Americans in the Bronx, New York.

Gunn is a surname. In some cases the surname it is derived from the Old Norse masculine personal name Gunnr. In other cases it may be derived from the Old Norse feminine personal name Gunnhildr.

Feminist activism in hip hop is a feminist movement based by hip hop artists. The activism movement involves doing work in graffiti, break dancing, and hip hop music. Hip hop has a history of being a genre that sexually objectifies and disrespects women ranging from the usage of video vixens to explicit rap lyrics. Within the subcultures of graffiti and breakdancing, sexism is more evident through the lack of representation of women participants. In a genre notorious for its sexualization of women, feminist groups and individual artists who identify as feminists have sought to change the perception and commodification of women in hip hop. This is also rooted in cultural implications of misogyny in rap music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sergei Chernyshev (breakdancer)</span> Russian breakdancer

Sergei Chernyshev, a.k.a. Bumblebee, is a Russian competitive breakdancer. Chernyshev, competing under the nickname 'Bumblebee', won the individual B-Boys gold medal at the 2018 Summer Youth Olympics, where breakdancing made its debut as a part of the Youth Olympics.

Ayumi Fukushima, also known as Ayumi, is a Japanese breakdancer. She participated at the 2022 World Games in the dancesport competition, being awarded the bronze medal in the B-Girls event. In 2021, Fukushima won the world championship in a competition in France. She also participated at a Red Bull BC One competition. Ayumi works as a schoolteacher.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ami Yuasa</span> Japanese breakdancer (born 1998)

Ami Yuasa, also known mononymously as Ami, is a Japanese breakdancer and Olympic gold medalist. She is the winner of the 2018 and 2023 Red Bull BC One world championship and the WDSF World Breaking Champions 2019 and 2022. She is a member of the Good Foot Crew.

Grace Sun "Sunny" Choi is an American breakdancer who competed in the inaugural breaking competition at the 2024 Summer Olympics. She previously performed as a youth gymnast and a director at Estée Lauder before leaving to pursue breaking full-time. Choi participated at the 2022 World Games in the dancesport competition where she won the silver medal in the B-Girls event. In 2023, she won the first gold medal in breakdancing ever given at the Pan American Games. Because of that, she became the first American woman to qualify for Olympic breaking.

Jeffrey Louis, also known mononymously as Jeffro, is an American breakdancer. He is of Haitian American heritage and has been breakdancing since the age of 12.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Breaking at the 2024 Summer Olympics</span> Breakdancing competition, 2024 Olympics

Breakdancing competitions at the 2024 Summer Olympics ran from 9 to 10 August at Place de la Concorde, marking the sport's official debut in the program and the first dancesport discipline to appear in Summer Olympic history. Following its successful debut at the 2018 Summer Youth Olympics in Buenos Aires, breaking was confirmed as one of the three additional sports, along with sport climbing and surfing, approved for Paris 2024. The competition saw a total of thirty-three breakers staged in face-to-face single battles. IOC president Thomas Bach stated that breaking was added as part of an effort to draw more interest from young people in the Olympics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Breaking at the 2023 Pan American Games</span> Breaking competitions at the 2023 Pan American Games

Breaking (breakdancing) competitions at the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile were held between November 3 and 4th, 2023 at the Chimkowe Gym in Peñalolén, a suburb of Santiago.

Manizha Talash, known competitively as b-girl Talash, is an Afghan breakdancer. She competed at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris as a member of the IOC Refugee Olympic Team.

Fatima Zahra El-Mamouny is a Moroccan breakdancer who competes under the nickname Elmamouny. She and fellow breakdancer Bilal Mallakh were the first breakdancers to ever qualify for the Olympics, and she competed at the 2024 Paris Olympics on 9 August.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Logan Edra</span> American breakdancer (born 2003)

Logan Elanna Edra, known by her nickname B-Girl Logistx, is an American breakdancer. She qualified for the United States at the 2024 Summer Olympics, featuring the debut of breakdancing at the Olympics.

Sun Chen is a Taiwanese breakdancer. Nicknamed "Quake", he competed for Chinese Taipei at the 2022 Asian Games and later qualified for the 2024 Summer Olympics, where he served as the Taiwanese co-flag bearer.

India Sardjoe is a Dutch breakdancer. She won the Red Bull BC One world title in 2022 and later qualified for the 2024 Summer Olympics, the first time breakdancing was featured at the games.

Antilai Sandrini also known as Anti, is an Italian breakdancer.

Liu Qingyi, also known as 671, is a Chinese breakdancer who represented China in the 2024 Summer Olympic Games, and won the bronze medal in the B-Girls competition.

Bilal Mallakh also known as B-Boy Billy, is a Moroccan breakdancer. He competed in the B-Boys event at the 2024 Summer Olympics.

Zeng Yingying, also known by her B-girl nickname Ying Zi, is a Chinese breakdancer who represented China at the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in the B-Girls competition.

References

  1. 1 2 Rachael Louise Gunn (2017), Deterritorializing gender in Sydney's breakdancing scene: a B-girl's experience of B-boying (catalogue entry), Macquarie University. Department of Media, Music, Communication and Cultural Studies, retrieved 13 August 2024
  2. 1 2 "RAYGUN". Olympics.com.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Rachael Gunn". Australian Olympic Committee. 24 February 2024. Retrieved 7 July 2024.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Snape, Jack (20 April 2024). "Breaker Rachael Gunn: 'We are essentially being used to up the Olympic ratings'". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 7 July 2024.
  5. ↑ The Barker, Issue 67, August 2005, p.24. Download here
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 "Rachael Gunn". Macquarie University. Retrieved 7 July 2024.
  7. ↑ Gunn, Rachael Louise (2017). Deterritorializing Gender in Sydney's Breakdancing Scene: A B-girl's Experience of B-boying (PhD thesis). Macquarie University. doi:10.25949/19433291.v1. hdl:1959.14/1275136.
  8. 1 2 Gunn, Rachael (9 August 2024). "Meet Raygun, the Australian academic who made history in Olympic breaking". SBS News (Interview). Interviewed by Wedesweiler, Madeleine. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
  9. 1 2 Rocca, Jane (3 July 2024). "She is 36, has a PhD and is heading to the Olympics to compete in breakdancing". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 7 July 2024.
  10. ↑ Gebilagin, Lizza (11 March 2024). "How Rachael Gunn is breakdancing her way to the Paris Olympics". Body and Soul.
  11. ↑ "Open Bgirl Ranking 2022 Australia" (PDF). 2022. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
  12. ↑ "Open Bgirl Ranking 2023 Australia" (PDF). 2023. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
  13. ↑ Gbogbo, Mawunyo (12 August 2024). "How did Raygun qualify for the Olympics? Is she really the best Australia has to offer?". ABC News . Retrieved 13 August 2024.
  14. ↑ "Raygun: Judge defends breaking routine that scored zero points at Paris Olympics". Sky News. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
  15. ↑ Olmedo, Alonzo (11 August 2024). "How does Olympic breaking work? Format, rules, judging and more". ESPN.com. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
  16. ↑ "Raygun Events and Medals, Paris Olympics 2024". olympics.com.
  17. ↑ Pu, Jason (10 August 2024). "Raygun, The Australian Breakdancer In The Olympics: Explained". Forbes . Retrieved 13 August 2024.
  18. ↑ Forward, Devon (11 August 2024). "Olympic Breakdancer Raygun Sends a Bold Message to Her Fashion Critics". Parade. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
  19. ↑ Stewart, Dodai; Minsberg, Talya (9 August 2024). "The Australian Professor Who Turned Breaking on Its Head". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 14 August 2024.
  20. ↑ "'Australia's first Olympic breaker 'Raygun' vows to keep being herself after online hate'". The Guardian. 10 August 2024. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
  21. ↑ "Raygun hits back at online hate as breaking moves at the Olympics go viral". The Independent. 10 August 2024. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
  22. ↑ "Australia exec upset by trolling of breaker Raygun". ESPN.com. 10 August 2024. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
  23. ↑ "Top breakdancing judge praises Raygun's kangaroo move as singer Adele weighs in". SBS News . 12 August 2024. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
  24. ↑ Maguire, Ken (11 August 2024). "Breaking community defends b-girl Raygun and is hopeful for return to Olympic program". AP News. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
  25. ↑ "Breaking community shows support for viral b-girl Raygun, says she was trying to be original". KUSA.com. 9 August 2024. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
  26. ↑ "Paris 2024: Officials support Australian breakdancer Rachael Gunn" (video). BBC Sport. 12 August 2024. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
  27. ↑ Wark, Tom (13 August 2024). "No, Raygun's Olympic selection not an inside job". Australian Associated Press . Retrieved 14 August 2024.
  28. ↑ Cummings-Grady, Mackenzie (14 August 2024). "Thousands Sign Petition Claiming Olympic Breakdancer RayGun Should Be Held Accountable for Unethical Conduct". XXL Mag. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
  29. ↑ Bonner, Mehera (14 August 2024). "Thousands Reportedly Sign Petition to Hold Raygun Accountable for "Unethical Conduct"". Cosmopolitan. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
  30. ↑ Panahi, Rita (14 August 2024). Academics ‘covering’ for Raygun after ‘goofy’ performance. Sky News Australia. Retrieved 14 August 2024– via YouTube.
  31. ↑ "Rachael Gunn: AOC defends Aussie breakdancer Raygun against 'disgraceful' online petition". amp.9news.com.au. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
  32. ↑ "Raygun: Australian breakdancer Rachael Gunn calls Olympic performance backlash "devastating"". BBC Sport. 15 August 2024. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
  33. ↑ Scopus. "Gunn Profile".
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.