B-girl Raygun Opens Up on Mental Health After Viral Paris Olympics Fallout
Two years after her controversial performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics, B-girl Raygun discusses her mental-health journey and the new Netflix documentary that revisits the episode.
Rachael Gunn, the Australian B-girl who competed under the name Raygun at the inaugural breaking event of the 2024 Paris Olympics, recently spoke about the lasting impact of the viral backlash she endured. In the Netflix documentary "Untold: Raygun - Breaking Badly," she recounts how unfounded claims tied her husband, former B-boy Samuel Free, to the Australian Breaking Association, fueling criticism from peers. Fellow breakers Flix and Tinylocks appear in the film, describing her Paris routine as embarrassing and sloppy, yet conceding she was the top B-girl that day.
Gunn disclosed that she began taking antidepressants months before the Games, which helped manage her anxiety amid a grueling training schedule. Today she says her mental health is "good" but requires ongoing self-monitoring, and she has started supporting emerging dancers in small local jams. Looking ahead, she hopes the documentary will open doors for creative projects and continue to promote authenticity and resilience in the breaking community.
Why it matters
The story highlights the mental-health challenges athletes face when thrust into global scrutiny and how media portrayals can affect personal well-being.
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