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Raygun has officially announced that her breakdancing performance at the Paris Olympics will mark the end of her Olympic career in the sport. Following significant criticism regarding her performance during the event, the Australian breakdancer declared on Wednesday that she would be stepping away from breakdancing altogether, choosing not to compete at future Olympics.
Raygun quickly rose to fame when breaking (also known as breakdancing) made its Olympic debut in Paris this summer, but not in the way she had hoped or anticipated. Instead of gaining recognition for her athleticism and skill, she became the subject of widespread ridicule. Her signature move, the “kangaroo bounce,” was widely mocked on social media, with countless memes and jokes circulating online, detracting from her achievements.
In addition to the relentless online bullying, Raygun found herself at the center of rumors that she had improperly gained entry into the Olympics. A petition signed by 50,000 people accused her of manipulating the qualification process, claiming that her participation was not legitimate. The petition was eventually taken down, and the Australian Olympic Committee issued a statement denying that Raygun’s husband and coach, Samuel Free, had played any role in influencing her selection to the team.
To add to the uncertainty, it was announced that breakdancing would not be featured in the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, despite the sport’s growing popularity after its debut in Paris. This decision was made well before breaking ever entered the Olympic arena, and it signals that, at least for the time being, Raygun’s Olympic career in breakdancing will come to a close alongside the sport’s removal from the Games. However, there is still some hope that breakdancing could make a return in the future, with the possibility of it being added to the 2032 Summer Olympics in Brisbane. Olympic sports are frequently added or removed based on their popularity and global appeal, so breaking’s future inclusion remains uncertain but not out of the question.
With the conclusion of Raygun’s Olympic journey and the sport’s uncertain future, breakdancing’s place in the Olympics appears to be on hold for now, but it could resurface in the coming years, especially if the sport continues to attract fans and new athletes. For Raygun, however, this marks the end of an era—one defined by both triumph and controversy.
Australian Breakdancer Calls It Quits After Online Bullying