Rachael Gunn is a 37-year-old Australian college lecturer with a PHD and an unlikely talent. Breakdancing. She has competed in (and won) many breaking competitions, and even has been ranked #1 in her country. But when she arrived in Paris for the 2024 Olympics, no one could have imagined the controversy she would bring.

When she competed against B-Girls from France, U.S.A, and Lithuania, she garnered all of 0 votes (votes = points, essentially). An unfathomable score that many were surprised by. Although watched live by millions, videos of her breaking sets were posted online and spread to even further reaches. Her dancing, outfit choice, and lack of style were heavily criticized and mocked by the media. Even Jimmy Fallon jumped on the bandwagon, bringing on comedian Rachel Dratch to play an exaggerated version of Gunn. Misinformation and lies were also spread about her online, but these falsehoods were quickly debunked. Many also used her performance as a basis for why breaking should not be considered an Olympic sport, but watch any of the medalists from either Men’s or Women’s breaking, and you’ll quickly understand that this sport is no joke.

So yeah, Ray-Gun did poorly and was mocked for it, but why should we care? Well, it’s because the Olympics are advertised to us as a showcase of the peak of athletes, and what humans are capable of. Look at Olympians such as gymnast Simone Biles, pole vaulter Armand Duplantis, and sprinter Noah Lyles, all of whom are the pinnacle of their respective sports. Even Olympians who aren’t record holders or medal winners are still a spectacle to watch and awe at, and Ray-Gun is a spectacle, just not for the reason she would like. It’s the fact that an average person sitting on their couch can easily recreate her breaking routine while eating hot chips. I applaud Ray-Gun for taking her epic failure in stride. She still posts on her Instagram, has done many interviews, and has not let the hate get to her. And sometimes, not letting cyberbullying and internet hate get to you can be an Olympic feat in and of itself.