Raygun says it has taken time to process her Olympic experience
Australian breaker Rachael Gunn, known as Raygun, opens up in a new Netflix documentary about the toll of her viral but unsuccessful performance at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Just hours before Australia's opening ceremony appearance at the Paris 2024 Olympics, breaker Rachael Gunn suffered a panic attack in the Olympic village. A university lecturer by profession, Gunn — known by her competitive name Raygun — was preparing for breaking's debut as an Olympic sport.
In a new Netflix documentary, the 38-year-old describes feeling like an impostor surrounded by seasoned athletes, admitting she broke down in tears before composing herself in time to join the Australian team sailing down the River Seine that evening.
Her Olympic run ended less than two weeks later without a single round-robin win, though she said she left satisfied with her performance, having earned respect even from world champion Dominika Banevic.
One of her routines, featuring unconventional moves such as a sprinkler motion and a kangaroo hop, unexpectedly went viral worldwide. It spawned memes, a sketch on Jimmy Fallon's show, a mention from Adele during a concert, a defence from actor Chris Hemsworth, and even public praise from Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
Alongside the light-hearted attention came darker conspiracy theories, including false claims that her husband and coach, Samuel Free, had sat on the selection panel that approved her qualification. Gunn said the scrutiny over her and her husband's integrity seriously affected her mental health during that period.
Gunn explained she had qualified for the Games through the 2023 Oceania Breaking Championships in Sydney and later received a scholarship at the New South Wales Institute of Sport to prepare physically. During training, her mother suffered three brain aneurysms, and Gunn herself began taking anti-depressants to cope with anxiety.
Knowing she could not match her rivals athletically, Gunn chose to lean into creativity, building a routine that playfully referenced Australian culture. She has denied reports that the backlash pushed her to quit breaking, insisting she remains committed to the sport and its community. The documentary also notes that Australian Breaking Association head Lowe Napalan had limited involvement in coaching her before the Games due to administrative duties.
