Olympic Breakdancer Raygun, Who Went Viral for Her Controversial Style, Claps Back at Critics: 'I Do My Thing'

Mar. 15, 2025

Raygun competes during the Breaking B-Girls Round Robin Group B battle against France’s Syssy.Photo:Harry Langer/DeFodi Images via Getty

Harry Langer/DeFodi Images via Getty

Raygun— the breaker (a.k.a. breakdancer) who went viral on social media for her unique dance moves at the2024 Paris Olympicsdebut of breaking as an event — has spoken out against her critics.

“I was never going to beat these girls on what they do best — their power moves,” Raygun said of her three competitors: Team USA’s b-girl Logistx, 21, France’s Syssy, 16, and Lithuania’s Nicka, 17. “What I bring is creativity.”

B-girl Raygun of Team Australia competes during the B-Girls Round Robin on Aug. 9, 2024.Elsa/Getty

Elsa/Getty

Many Olympic viewers on social mediajokedduring Raygun’s competitions on Friday that her moves looked “kangaroo”-like and resembled “what my nephew does after telling all of us to ‘watch this.’ "

“All of my moves are original,” Raygun told ESPN. “Creativity is really important to me. I go out there, and I show my artistry. Sometimes it speaks to the judges, and sometimes it doesn’t. I do my thing, and it represents art. That is what it is about.”

Additionally, Australia’s chef de mission Anna Meares spoke out on Raygun’s behalf, calling some of the criticism she faced sexist for her work in such a “male-dominated sport.”

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According to herOlympics profile, Raygun is a university lecturer in Sydney and was a jazz and ballroom dancer before she got into breaking in her 20s. She even studies breaking in her work as a professor — according to her biography page forMacquarie University, she studies “the cultural politics of breaking.”

Raygun.Harry Langer/DeFodi Images via Getty

“In 2008, she was locked in a room crying being involved in a male-dominated sport as the only woman, and it took great courage for her to continue on and fight for her opportunity to participate in a sport that she loved,” Meares added, per ESPN. “That got her to winning the Olympic qualifying event to be here in Paris. She is the best breakdancer female that we have for Australia.”

source: people.com