And yet, for many, the resounding image of Paris 2024 will be that of Australian breakdancer Dr Rachael “Raygun” Gunn: the green and gold tracksuit, the kangaroo-paw, the unbridled enthusiasm.
At the time of writing, it’s no great leap to say most people have seen some of the Raygun routine – well, almost everyone. The agency is home to some of the country’s most profitable social media stars, including The Inspired Unemployed, and was crucial in Gunn securing her first brand partnership with Finder, the global financial technology company, to front the #The campaign leans into Raygun’s controversial moves, encouraging entrants to submit a dance video to Instagram with the hashtag #RaygunChallenge. “I’ve heard some of you think you can do better than me,” Gunn says in a video posted to Instagram by Finder.
Finder may be Gunn’s first paid brand deal, but it won’t be her last. However, rather than striking while the iron is hot, she is engaging in a more delicate dance: extending her 15 minutes of fame without saying yes to everything. B-Girl Raygun made her mark in Paris. Now her controversial moves could help the breakdancer build a business empire.According to Gunn, who lectures on dance and gender politics at Macquarie University, she has a few projects “happening behind the scenes”. But while Brand Raygun remains in its infancy, she’s not walking away from academia.“I’m still marking papers to pay the bills; I have a whole stack to mark right now,” she says. “And I still enjoy research and being in the classroom.