Breaking's Olympic Debut in Paris Draws Mixed Reactions

Breaking has made its first appearance at the Olympics in Paris, which has received mixed feedback. In the first head-to-head, Australia’s top-ranked Belgium girl, Raygun, whose real name is Rachael Gunn, struggled with her performance. Even though Gunn is an accomplished scholar and lecturer, she barely made her case when she was defeated in all her contests against rival breakers from the USA, France, and Lithuania. Her moves, especially an awkward conclusion, quickly went viral.

Fans and the public have expressed their disappointment and concerns regarding breaking’s readiness to be an Olympic event. For many, breaking is still considered as a street dance, and it needs more practice and exposure before it can be staged in the next Olympics. Despite the little hiccup, breaking is vital for the battleground and the academic world. Gunn is Australia’s top Belgium girl and a popular scholar at Sydney’s Macquarie University. The first head-to-head has outlined the challenge that lies ahead before breaking can make a case for the next Olympics in America. Much is to be done in the field to ensure that breakers have rigs and routines that would win their case in future tournaments.