Rachael "Raygun" Gunn has revealed that she had minimal training and "couldn't even break" before her widely criticized breakdancing performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics. In the Netflix documentary "Untold Raygun: Breaking Badly," Gunn, 39, acknowledged that her routine was "cringe" and discussed the significant backlash she faced, which led her to resign from her academic position.
According to the documentary, Gunn did not receive formal Olympic training because her head coach, Lowe Napalan, was occupied with administrative duties. Napalan, who also heads the Australian Breaking Association (AUSBreak), stated that he had limited time to train Gunn, describing their sessions as "less than ten sessions, for sure." He admitted he only saw her final routine minutes before she performed it on the Olympic stage and expressed concern over her preparation.
"I was doing a lot more administrative work. In terms of Raygun's training specifically, I was only there assisting a handful of times," Napalan said. "I actually didn't see her really much at all in the last month or two [before the Olympics]. I don't think I saw her." He added that he sensed it was "a losing battle" and "you're training to lose."
Napalan also revealed his reaction to Gunn's planned routine, which he saw briefly before her performance. "She showed me a little preview and I was looking at it like [shocked expression]," he recounted, adding he had to "not have a face of shock" while side-stage.
Gunn's primary training came from her husband, Samuel Free, also a breakdancer. Leah Clark, a fellow B-girl and former friend of Gunn's, criticized Napalan's lack of direct involvement. "You're the head coach. Maybe you should oversee what your team is putting on the Olympic stage," Clark stated.
Clark, who considered Gunn a friend for 15 years, felt "offended" and "embarrassed" by Gunn's Olympic performance. She noted that while Gunn has a "unique style," the routine was not representative of competitive breakdancing.
In the documentary, Gunn explained her decision to proceed with the Olympics despite recognizing her skill deficit. "I don't like to have regrets and I think that I knew deep down if I walked away, I would have regretted it more and that would have haunted me, rather than going through whatever happened," she said.
Despite the public criticism and viral mockery, Gunn continues to breakdance, stating, "I know for sure I'm never going to stop breaking." The documentary explores the intense online ridicule and conspiracy theories that Gunn and Free faced, both of whom denied claims of cheating their way into the Games.
The film has generated mixed reactions online, with some viewers criticizing Gunn's "delusion" and others expressing sympathy, calling her a "class act" and a "high-class person" while acknowledging the difficulties she faced.