Australian breakdancer Raygun has garnered praise from a top Olympic judge despite the ongoing backlash surrounding her viral performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Chief breaking judge Martin Gilian, also known as MGbility, commended the 36-year-old B-girl for her originality and representation of her country. Gilian explained that Raygun's inspiration for her performance came from her surroundings, as evidenced by her incorporation of a kangaroo hop.

While Raygun did not receive any points for her performance, Gilian reassured reporters that the scores were based on a competitive judging system and should not be seen as an indication of her performance being "bad." According to Gilian, Raygun's display of original moves showcased her commitment to representing breaking and hip hop.

Anna Meares, the chef de mission of Australia, also expressed support for Raygun, acknowledging her perseverance in a male-dominated sport. Meares explained that Raygun had faced challenges as the only woman in the sport in 2008 but showed great courage to continue and fight for her participation in a sport she loved. Meares emphasized that Raygun is the best female breakdancer in Australia and lauded her as a representative of the Olympic spirit.

Sergey Nifontov, the general secretary of the World DanceSport Federation, expressed concern over the backlash Raygun has faced online, stating that such criticism should not be happening. Nifontov felt that something was amiss in the direction the community was taking.

Raygun's unique and creative dance routine at the inaugural Olympics breaking competition gained her overnight fame. Her performance involved rolling on the ground, kangaroo-like movements, and sporadic arm twirling. Ultimately, Raygun and other competitors with low scores were surpassed by Japan's Ami Yuasa, Lithuania's Dominika Banevič, and China's Liu Qingyi, who secured gold, silver, and bronze medals respectively.

Reflecting on her performance, Raygun acknowledged that she would not have been able to compete with the dynamic and powerful moves of her fellow competitors. Instead, she aimed to showcase her artistic and creative side, taking advantage of the rare opportunity to perform on an international stage.

While Raygun faced criticism for her performance, some supporters admired her creativity and displayed confidence during the competition. However, there were still skeptics who questioned the legitimacy of her performance, speculating that she might be a comedian who bluffed her way to the Olympics.

Addressing the online backlash, Raygun shared a cryptic quote on Instagram, encouraging individuals to embrace their uniqueness and represent themselves fearlessly.

Raygun's journey to the Olympics began as she started competitively dancing in her 20s. Her qualifications included winning the Oceania Breaking Championships in 2023 and participating in the world championships in both 2021 and 2022. While breaking made its debut at the 2024 Paris Olympics, it is not expected to be included in the 2028 Summer Games hosted in Los Angeles.