Australian breaker Rachael Gunn, better known as B-Girl Raygun, has claimed the top spot in the latest women’s breaking rankings released by the World DanceSport Federation (WDSF), CNN reports.
The 37-year-old Olympian, who went viral after her unique performance at the Paris Games, earned her spot with a gold medal victory at the 2023 WDSF Oceania Championships.
Raygun’s rise to the top is particularly notable given her performance at the Paris Olympics, where she failed to score any points across her three battles. Despite this, her Oceania Championships win secured her 1,000 ranking points, propelling her to the number one position, level on points with world number two, B-Girl Riko of Japan.
The WDSF clarified that its rankings are based on each athlete’s top four performances within the past 12 months, with points remaining valid for 52 weeks. Interestingly, none of the Olympic B-Girl medalists – Ami of Japan, Nicka of Lithuania, and 671 of China – are ranked within the top 10.
This discrepancy stems from the fact that the Olympic qualifying events and the Games themselves did not contribute to the ranking list due to limited athlete quotas. The WDSF also explained that traditional ranking events were not held to allow competitors to focus on Olympic preparation.
Despite the online criticism she faced following her unconventional performance in Paris, which included a kangaroo hop and various contortions, Raygun has emerged as a global force in breaking. Her unique style, which drew both praise and criticism, has undoubtedly propelled her into the spotlight.
Raygun, a university lecturer by day, recently apologized to the breaking community for the backlash her performance generated. However, she has also expressed gratitude for the support she has received from within the sport.
