Rachael Gunn

Dr. Rachael Gunn, known competitively as Raygun, is an Australian breakdancer, academic, and cultural advocate recognized for her contributions to breakdancing, hip-hop culture, and gender studies. Gunn began her academic career at Macquarie University, where she completed a Bachelor of Arts with First Class Honours in Contemporary Music and Cultural Studies, followed by a PhD in cultural studies. She later joined the university as a lecturer, focusing her research on breakdancing, street dance, hip-hop, youth culture, and gender in politics.

Gunn started breakdancing at age 20, inspired after witnessing a fellow B-girl perform in a male-dominated environment. She entered her first competition a few years later, adopting the moniker Raygun. Gunn was named the top B-girl by the Australian Breaking Association and represented Australia at the World DanceSport Federation Breaking Championships. After qualifying at the Oceania Breaking Championships in Sydney, she became the first Australian woman to compete in breaking at the Olympics.

Raygun competed in the breaking event at the Summer Olympics in Paris, where her unconventional routine, featuring moves like the Kangaroo Hop, attracted significant attention. Gunn's performance sparked widespread discussion about gender, race, and the intersection of academia and street dance, particularly given breaking's origins in the New York hip-hop scene. She was parodied on "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" in the United States and experienced both criticism and recognition, including a brief elevation to the top of the World DanceSport Federation rankings after her Oceania Championship win.

Following her Olympic experience, Gunn has spoken openly about the challenges of public scrutiny and the impact on her confidence and academic work. After her position at Macquarie University ended due to departmental cuts, she transitioned into public speaking, addressing topics such as gender politics in breaking, hip-hop culture, and the dynamics of internet virality.

A Netflix documentary, "Untold Raygun: Breaking Badly," chronicles Gunn's journey from academia to the Olympics and the aftermath of her viral moment. The film explores her entry into breakdancing, her path to the Paris Games, and the personal and professional challenges she faced. Gunn continues to engage audiences as a speaker, creator, and writer, drawing on her experiences in breakdancing, cultural studies, and gender research.