In an unexpected twist at the Paris Olympics 2024, Rachael Gunn, a 36-year-old Australian Olympian and college professor, stood out among the crowd of breakers with her distinctive style and academic background.

Amidst a sea of baggy pants, bandanas, and hip-hop drip, Rachael, also known as B-girl Raygun, appeared in her standard Australian Olympian uniform, looking more like a college professor than a competitor. Unaware of the informal dress code, she humorously remarked, "I didn't get the memo that we weren't gonna rep our country colors. What's going on there?"

Rachael, a former ballroom dancer with a PhD in cultural studies and a day job at Macquarie University in Sydney, knew she was an outlier in a competition stacked with world champions and teenage breakers with braces. Nevertheless, she embraced her uniqueness and approached the event with her own style.

During the women's breaking competition, Rachael unfortunately did not secure any votes, losing her three round-robin battles by a score of 18-0 each time. Undeterred, she leaned into her "unique style," which some viewers interpreted as a comedic act. She playfully swiped her Aussie-green baseball cap, pumped her fist in the air, flexed her muscles, and even performed a comical fish-like flop.

Reflecting on her performance, Rachael acknowledged, "Look, everyone's got a different style in breaking." While her repertoire lacked the acrobatic power moves of her competitors, she showcased the footwork and basic downrock breaking skills she had honed since taking up breaking in her 20s.

Considering her late start in breaking and the fact that Australia is not typically associated with hip-hop culture, Rachael's presence in the Olympics was impressive. She earned her qualification as the best in Oceania and made her country proud despite not being a full-time breaker like some of her fellow Olympians.

Rachael, who spends most of her time lecturing and researching dance, gender politics, and theoretical and practical methodologies, acknowledged that her journey to the Olympics was met with disbelief among her students. "In 2023, many of my students didn't believe me when I told them I was training to qualify for the Olympics, and were shocked when they checked Google and saw that I qualified," she revealed.

Although she exited the competition without a vote, Rachael expressed her gratitude for the opportunity and the extraordinary experience she had at the Paris Olympics. "What a stage, what an arena, what a crowd. Music was great. Like, oh, so, so grateful for the opportunity," she shared, beaming with enthusiasm.

Rachael Gunn's unique style, combined with her academic background and determination, has left a lasting impression on the Olympic breaking competition, showcasing that breaking is a dance form that embraces diverse styles and talents. While she may not have taken home a medal, Rachael's journey has inspired others and highlighted the true spirit of the Olympic Games.