Videos of Paris Olympics Breakdancer Raygun Go Viral Inspiring Flurry of Memes
At the 2024 Paris Olympics, breaking (also known as breakdancing) made its debut as an Olympic sport—and Rachael Gunn of Team Australia quickly inspired a flurry of memes and jokes after a video of her went viral on social media.
On Friday, Aug. 9, Gunn (known as B-Girl Raygun), 36, went head-to-head with multiple breaking competitors in Paris, France. Viewers couldn't help but react to her "interesting" dance moves.
"Feel like I am watching a Will Ferrell movie," one X user declared in the comments of one clip shared via X.
Another X user joked, "That's how I greet my cat when I get home from work."
Someone else in the thread defended Raygun, writing, "I'm sorry, but how can you watch this and think anything but ABSOLUTE LEGEND. She has transcended cringe into Queen of the Internet."
She’s gonna get that Juilliard audition, for her mom and Derek ????. pic.twitter.com/tgdyFJHTbk
— Charlie (@charlieblr) August 9, 2024
Another X user thought the routine looked familiar, sharing, "She’s gonna get that Juilliard audition, for her mom and Derek," referencing the plot of the 2001 film Save the Last Dance.
Meanwhile, one viewer defended her, responding, "Props to her for having that back and those knees moving like that at 36 though."
"my five year old niece after she says 'watch this!' :," yet another person quipped via X.
my five year old niece after she says “watch this!” : pic.twitter.com/KBAMSkgltj
— alex (@alex_abads) August 9, 2024
One X user shared a clip from The Simpsons, exclaiming, "Knew I'd seen the gal from Australia in the #breakdancing before."
Knew I’d seen the gal from Australia in the #breakdancing before pic.twitter.com/UvMXLUsDEW
— Martha Greenbank (@MarthaGreenbank) August 9, 2024
"Now the sprinkler is a part of break dancing," someone else wrote alongside a clip of Raygun doing just that.
Now the sprinkler is a part of break dancing#raygun#breaking#Olympics2024Paris #Paris2024 #breakdancing pic.twitter.com/NGaQnUsH9n
— Its your girl_Liz (@d4ch0sen1) August 9, 2024
Elsewhere, Raygun nailed the "kangaroo hop."
Raygun really hit the Kangaroo hop LMAO #BREAKING #Olympics #olympicbreaking pic.twitter.com/Ho0xzdT3bT
— michael? (@inluvin3days) August 9, 2024
"Maybe adding breakdancing to the Olympics was a mistake," a speechless X user concluded.
Maybe adding breakdancing to the Olympics was a mistake pic.twitter.com/DTk7HOrhrU
— greg (@greg16676935420) August 9, 2024
Unfortunately for Raygun, she lost all three of her breaking matches at the Paris Olympics.
Fortunately, however, she has a solid fallback career; Gunn works as a lecturer at Sydney’s Macquarie University and holds a Ph.D. in cultural studies, CNBC reported.