Raygun's world-leading position is attributed to technicality
Gunn, who performs under the name Raygun, has defended her status as Australia's leading B-girl despite failing to score in any of her three competition rounds in Paris.
Rachael Gunn remains the world's top female breakdancer, despite a controversial Olympic performance for Team Australia that garnered her a score of zero and divided opinions online.
The World DanceSport Federation (WDSF), which oversees breakdancing, has responded to concerns about its rankings by clarifying its methodology. The WDSF explained that athletes' rankings are based on their top four performances from the past year, excluding Olympic events and qualifiers.
Gunn, who performs under the name Raygun, has defended her status as Australia's leading B-girl despite failing to score in any of her three competition rounds in Paris. Her routine included unconventional moves such as the sprinkler and the kangaroo hop.
Gunn commented, "The record is there. But anything can happen in a battle," addressing the polarized reaction to her performance.
The WDSF has faced scrutiny regarding both its rankings and its overall credibility. In its recent statement, the WDSF aimed to address criticisms by explaining that "ranking events" were intentionally paused between the end of 2023 and the Olympics to allow athletes to focus on the Games.
This created "unique circumstances," leading to some athletes being ranked based on limited events. For Gunn, her top ranking is attributed to a first-place finish at the Oceania continental championships in October 2023.
The ongoing debate over Raygun’s performance has divided the breakdancing community, with some supporting her and others accusing her of undermining the sport.
This controversy has also prompted discussions about whether breakdancing, which made its Olympic debut in Paris but is not included in the 2028 Games in Los Angeles, should have been part of the Olympics given the genre's organic nature and its suitability for organized competition.
Zack Slusser, vice-president of Breaking for Gold USA, criticized the WDSF for lacking "real merit" within the breaking community and for not organizing events that contribute to accurate world rankings.
He noted that breakers participated in WDSF events primarily to secure Olympic qualification points and expressed doubts about continued participation in future WDSF events post-Paris.
