Despite a disappointing performance at the Paris Olympics, Rachael Gunn, also known as B-Girl Raygun, has been ranked as the No. 1 breaker in the world by the World DanceSport Federation (WDSF).
The 37-year-old Australian, who holds a PhD in Breakdancing, achieved the top spot in the latest women’s rankings released by the WDSF. This recognition comes despite her struggles at the Olympics, where she failed to score points in her matches against competitors from the United States, France, and Lithuania, losing all three rounds 18-0.
Her performance also became a target for widespread ridicule and memes on social media, prompting her to take a break from online platforms.
In a recent turn of events, the WDSF named her the world’s top breaker following her gold medal win at the 2023 WDSF Oceania Championships. This victory earned her 1,000 ranking points, propelling her to the No. 1 spot, tying with world No. 2 B-Girl Riko from Japan. Her win at the Oceania Championships also secured her a spot in Paris.
The WDSF clarified that its rankings are based on the top four performances of each athlete within the past 12 months, with points valid for 52 weeks from the event date.
The Olympic qualifying events in Shanghai and Budapest, as well as the Paris Games, did not affect the ranking list due to limited athlete quotas and a focus on Olympic preparation. Consequently, many ranking results have expired, affecting the current standings.
The WDSF added that the rankings should be viewed alongside recent results and will be updated following the expiration of the next set of 12-month points and the Breaking for Gold World Series in Shanghai this October.
Raygun gained widespread attention for her unconventional routine at the Olympics, featuring moves such as a kangaroo hop, a backward roll, and various floor contortions. Last week, she apologized to the breaking community for the backlash her performance received, expressing regret for the negative impact on the community.
