Raygun (Dr Rachael Gunn) in a pink floral shirt, smiling and gesturing with her hands, standing in front of pastel-colored wall panels.

meet raygun

aka dr rachael gunn

“Raygun is not an untouchable celebrity calling out for fame or a sports star looking to milk her 15 minutes in the spotlight – she is an everyday human being trying to help her fellow Australians.”
— Jarryd Rowley, About Regional

Dr Rachael Gunn is an Olympian, academic, and dancer spanning elite sport, research, and contemporary culture.

Known for her originality and engaging presence, she combines academic rigour with creative practice to challenge expectations and connect with audiences. She is an advocate for authenticity, resilience, and creative thinking, using her platform to support communities and causes close to her heart.

Raygun (Dr Rachael Gunn) in casual clothing competing at a breaking event in Madrid.

bgirl

Raygun has always been a dancer, but came to breaking later in life, entering her first competition in 2012 at 25. In a then underground, male-dominated scene, she never imagined it would lead to the Olympic stage. Battling alongside and against men shaped her advocacy for bgirls and her commitment to more inclusive spaces. She has competed across Australia and internationally, representing Australia at multiple world championships. Despite speculation after Paris she has not retired, because ‘you don’t retire from culture.’

titles

  • 1# Ranked Australian Bgirl – 2023
  • Winner – 2023 – Oceania Breaking Championships / Olympic Qualifier, 1v1 Bgirl
  • Winner – 2023 – Destructive Steps, 1v1 Bgirl
  • Winner – 2023 – ABA Battles Series 6, 1v1 Bgirl
  • Winner – 2022 – ABA Battles Series 5, 1v1 Bgirl
  • Winner – 2022 – ABA Battles Series 4, 1v1 Bgirl
  • 1# Ranked Australian Bgirl – 2021
  • Winner – 2021 – ABA Battle Series 3, 1v1 Bgirl
  • Winner – 2021 – ABA Battle Series 2, 1v1 Bgirl
  • Runner Up – 2021 – ABA Battle Series 1, 1v1 Bgirl
  • 1# Ranked Australian Bgirl – 2020
  • Winner – 2019 – Ryugi Vol. 25, 1v1 Bgirl
  • Runner Up – 2019 – Destructive Steps 11, 1v1 Bgirl
  • Winner – 2019 – Rhythm Faction’s 10 Year Anniversary, Crew (mixed)
  • Runner Up – 2016 – Battle of the Year: Australia Qualifier, 2v2 Bgirl
  • Winner – 2014 – Sydney Bboy League, Crew (mixed)
  • Runner Up – 2013 – Mind Control, 2v2 (mixed)
Raygun (Dr Rachael Gunn) performing a breaking move - a headstand - against a dark background.
Raygun (Dr Rachael Gunn) wearing a red jacket, pink shirt, and light jeans, sitting on a bench outdoors.

expert

Rachael has a PhD in Cultural Studies, completing her thesis on the gender politics of Sydney’s breaking culture in 2017. Until 2026, she was a lecturer in media and popular culture at Macquarie University (Sydney), where she was known as an engaging and passionate teacher, and received awards for both teaching and research across her academic career. She built a strong research profile on the cultural politics of breaking and street dance, exploring broader themes of identity, community, the body, and the transformative power of dance.

Rachael has always been committed to making her work accessible beyond academia. From completing a study on street dancers’  experiences of dancing in public space for the City of Sydney, to writing for The Economist and The Conversation, Rachael’s work reached a broad audience, even before Paris.

Topics include: gender, identity, culture, representation, street dance, breaking, and urban sports.

Published works
Raygun (Dr Rachael Gunn) standing on stage with three people holding a large check for $10,000 made out to Women's Resilience Centre. They are smiling, with a purple and yellow backdrop and banners behind them.

since the games

After gaining global attention at the Olympic Games, Rachael has used her platform to support charities focused on mental health, women’s shelters, and community initiatives. Through her speaking, she shares her experiences to help others build resilience, navigate social media, stay motivated, and think creatively.

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