51.6 F
Schenectady
Sunday, October 6, 2024

Sport’s governing body ranks Viral Olympian Raygun as world’s top breaker

spot_img
spot_img

SYDNEY — The Australian breaking sensation, Rachael Gunn, also‍ known as B-Girl Raygun, has made headlines ‍once ‍again. After her unforgettable performance at the Paris Games, she has now‌ ascended to the top of the world rankings,‌ becoming the No. 1 breaker globally.

At 37 ‌years old, Raygun ⁢has secured the premier position in the latest women’s rankings,​ as⁣ announced ‍by​ the⁢ World DanceSport Federation. This organization is⁢ the international governing body‍ for breaking and other dance sports.

Despite not scoring​ any⁤ points in her Olympic face-offs against breakers‌ from the United States,​ France, and‍ Lithuania in August, where she lost ​18-0 in all three rounds, ‌Raygun’s determination ⁢remained unshaken.

Her resilience paid off when she clinched the ⁤gold medal‌ at the 2023 Oceania Championships. This⁢ victory not only earned her⁣ 1,000 ranking points, catapulting her⁣ to the No. 1 spot, but also secured her a place in Paris. She now shares the top spot with B-Girl Riko of Japan, who is ranked world No. 2.

In ⁤a surprising ⁣turn‍ of events, none of the Olympic B-Girl medalists, including Japan’s Ami, Lithuania’s Nicka,‌ and‌ China’s 671, who‌ won gold, silver, and bronze respectively, are ranked ‍within the top 10.

The dance‌ federation clarified in a statement ‌on ⁢Tuesday that⁢ its rankings are‍ updated based on each⁢ athlete’s top four ⁤performances ​within the past​ 12 months. ​Points earned⁣ in these competitions remain valid for 52 weeks from the date of the event.

The federation also ‍confirmed that⁢ the Olympic ​qualifying events in Shanghai and Budapest, as well as the Paris ‌Games themselves, did not contribute to‍ the ranking list due ⁢to limited athlete quotas. ‍It also stated that events⁢ that ⁤traditionally give ranking points were not held to allow competitors⁣ to fully focus‌ on preparation for the Games.

It​ explained, “In alignment with the Olympic Qualification System, ranking events were ‌intentionally not held between 31 Dec. 2023, ⁤and the⁤ Olympic Games Paris 2024.‍ This strategic⁤ scheduling allowed athletes to focus⁢ solely on the last part​ of their ‍Olympic qualification without the added pressure⁢ of additional⁤ ranking events.

“By the end of the Olympic Games, many of the ⁤competition results included in the ranking had expired, leading to ‌the current situation where many athletes have only one competition⁤ result contributing‌ to their‍ ranking.”

The federation advised​ that the current rankings should be viewed‌ “in conjunction”⁣ with more recent results. The list will undergo⁤ changes when the next batch of ⁢12-month points expire and the Breaking for Gold World Series is held in Shanghai in October.

Raygun became a global sensation⁣ after⁢ her unique⁤ routine at ‍the Olympics captured the world’s attention. ⁤Dressed‌ in Australia’s green and gold tracksuit, she showcased some unconventional moves, including ‍a kangaroo​ hop, a backward roll, and various body contortions while lying or ​crawling on the floor.

Her performance sparked a mixed reaction online, with​ some⁤ users‍ on X,‌ formerly known as Twitter, ⁢labeling her routines as ⁢”hilariously⁢ ridiculous,” and others questioning her ‌journey ‍to the top.

Despite the criticism, Raygun remained positive and described the entire experience as “devastating” yet enlightening. “I‍ knew that I was going ‌to get beaten, and I⁣ knew that people​ were⁣ not going ‍to understand my style and what I was ‍going to do,” she said in an interview​ with Australian current affairs show The Project. “The ​odds were‌ against me, that’s for sure.”

“I would much rather focus on the positives out of ⁢this, and the positive responses and the‌ joy that I brought people,” ‍she said. “It’s going out⁤ there and ‌just ⁣having fun ‌and ​going as hard as you can in the⁣ face of, you know, losing.”

Breaking made its‍ Olympic debut at the 2024 Paris Games but ​will not ⁤feature ⁢in⁣ Los Angeles in 2028.

spot_img
Truth Media Network
Truth Media Network
News aggregated courtesy of Truth Media Network.
Latest news
Read More

3 COMMENTS

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here