Australian Olympic breakdancer Rachael Gunn, competing as B-Girl Raygun, has shared her reflections on the whirlwind experience of her debut at the Paris 2024 Games, including a viral performance and subsequent online scrutiny.
Gunn, a university lecturer by profession, described experiencing a panic attack in the Olympic village just hours before the opening ceremony, feeling like an imposter among seasoned athletes.
"I just could not stop crying... I had a panic attack. 'What am I doing? What have I done? Should I be doing this?'" Gunn said, as detailed in a new Netflix documentary about her journey.
Despite not winning any of her round-robin battles, Gunn felt she acquitted herself well. Her final round included a moment where the world champion, Dominika Banevic, acknowledged her moves, and the master of ceremonies celebrated her performance. "The vibe was just generally good," Gunn told BBC Sport.
However, one of her performances, which featured unconventional moves like a "sprinkler" and a "kangaroo hop," unexpectedly went viral. The attention extended beyond sports circles, leading to memes, a sketch on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, a reference by singer Adele, and even a comment from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese praising her effort.
"It was pretty wild the way I became a topic of conversation in spaces I never thought I would be," Gunn remarked.
Beyond the viral fame, Gunn faced baseless conspiracy theories, including claims that her husband and trainer, Samuel Free, had been on the selection committee for her qualification. Gunn clarified that Free was not involved in the selection process.
"It was really tough when mine and Sammy's credibility, ethics and motivations were being called into question," Gunn stated. "You could just spend 30 seconds researching and find plenty of sources to debunk these conspiracies, but that's not how people use the internet anymore."
This intense public scrutiny impacted Gunn's mental health, leaving her feeling as though her life was "crumbling." However, she feels that creating a film about her experience has helped her regain a sense of agency.
"It's taken a long time for me to process what happened," Gunn told BBC Sport. "It's really exciting for me to finally have a voice again."