August 10th 2024.
As a child, Rachael always dreamed of being a dancer. Growing up in New South Wales, Australia, she would put on her little pink tutu and dance in front of the video camera, her toes perfectly pointed and a proud smile on her face. She loved all styles of dance – ballet, ballroom, jazz, tap – you name it, she could do it. Little did she know that this passion for dance would lead her to become an Olympian.
Just a few weeks ago, Rachael posted a throwback picture on Instagram from one of her childhood dance videos. Along with it, she shared a heartfelt caption: "I remember going to the Sydney 2000 Olympics and never in a million years thinking that one day I would be an Olympian. I was always a dancer – ballet, ballroom, jazz, tap – you name it." Little did she know, she would soon be representing her country at the Paris Olympics in the first ever breakdancing event.
It was a proud moment for Rachael when she found out she had been selected to represent Australia in breakdancing at the Olympics. In her Instagram post, she wrote, "I'm so excited that at this year's Olympics we get an opportunity to show the world the athleticism, dedication, and mastery that's required to succeed in dance."
Rachael's love for dance started at a young age and she was always eager to learn new styles. She even took up breakdancing a decade ago when her now-husband and coach, Samuel Free, introduced her to the sport. As a former ballroom dancer with a love for jazz, Rachael embraced breakdancing and together with her husband, they formed a six-member crew called Vanguards of Style.
With her unique and diverse breakdancing styles, Rachael quickly made a name for herself as the top breakdancer in Australia, known by her stage name B-girl Raygun. She even won the Olympic qualifying event, Oceania Breaking Championships, last year which secured her spot in the Paris games.
In an interview, Rachael shared that her training for the Olympics involved three to four hours a day of strength and conditioning, cardio, flexibility work, and focusing on the different aspects of breaking such as top rock, footwork, power, and freezes. She even trained outside on the street at night with her crew.
Despite not winning any points at the Olympics, Rachael has definitely made her mark and got people talking about the sport of breakdancing. She has been compared to the ultimate Olympic underdog, Eddie The Eagle Edwards, who became the first British ski jumper in 60 years to compete in the 1988 Winter Olympics. Just like Eddie, Rachael has brought a sense of fun and enjoyment to the serious and highly competitive Olympic Games.
Some critics may argue that breakdancing is not a "real" sport, but Rachael has always dismissed these claims, stating that the athleticism in breaking is "out of this world." She may not have been able to compete athletically with her younger competitors, but she made up for it with her creativity and artistry.
Rachael's performance at the Olympics may have spawned many memes and mocking, but she has also received a lot of support and admiration. She even hit back at critics who ridiculed her decision to perform in her team's clothing, reminding them to also scrutinize the male athletes' outfits.
Although breaking made its debut at the Paris Olympics, it will not be included in the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. However, Rachael hopes that it will be brought back for the 2032 Olympics when Australia hosts the games. As a breakdancing expert with a PhD in cultural science, Rachael has written a research paper on how Australians have welcomed the sport's Olympic debut.
While Japan's Ami Yuasa may have won the gold in the women's final, Rachael – also known as Dr. Gunn – is the name on everyone's lips. She may have started the Olympics as a little-known academic, but by the end of it, she was a viral sensation, making breakdancing one of the most talked about sports of the Olympics.
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