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Rachael Gunn, a 36-year-old cultural studies lecturer at Macquarie University in Sydney, made waves at the Paris 2024 Olympics with her unconventional performance in the women's breaking competition. Known as B-girl Raygun, Gunn stood out not only for her attire, which contrasted sharply with the typical hip-hop fashion of her competitors, but also for her unique, non-traditional moves.Gunn's routine included less typical elements like a crab walk and a chin-holding squirm, which she incorporated into her performance. She entered the competition aware that she might not be a favorite, and her expectations were met when she lost all three of her round-robin battles with 18-0 scores and failed to earn a single vote from the judges.Despite her lack of success in the competition, Gunn's performance sparked a lot of discussion and debate online. Some praised her for her originality and for challenging the norms of the sport, while others criticized her for her lack of technical skill and for not taking the competition seriously.Gunn responded to the online trolling by posting a quote on her Instagram: "Don't be afraid to be different, go out there and represent yourself, you never know where that's gonna take you." She also expressed her hope that her performance would inspire a new generation of people to get into breaking.Gunn's performance at the Olympics was a reminder that breaking is a diverse and inclusive sport that welcomes people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities. It is a sport that celebrates creativity, individuality, and self-expression.

The 2024 Paris Olympics promises to be a spectacle of athleticism and innovation, with the introduction of new sports and exciting format changes.Breaking: A New Dance on the Olympic StageBreaking, the electrifying dance form, makes its Olympic debut in Paris. Originating as a street dance, breaking has evolved into a competitive sport, showcasing incredible athleticism and creativity.Kayak Cross: A Race Against the CurrentCanoe slalom welcomes a new format with kayak cross. Four athletes race head-to-head from a ramp, navigating obstacles and battling for the finish line. This marks the first time canoeing features direct competition between participants.Returning Favorites: Surfing, Skateboarding, Sport Climbing, and 3x3 BasketballSurfing returns to the Olympics, with the events taking place in the idyllic waters of Tahiti. Skateboarding, sport climbing, and the fast-paced 3x3 basketball also make a comeback, promising thrilling performances.Other Changes: Second Chances and Gender InclusivityTrack and field events from 200m to 1500m will offer a second chance for athletes who miss the semifinals. A repechage heat will allow "lucky losers" to compete for a spot in the next round.Artistic swimming welcomes men for the first time, promoting gender inclusivity in the sport. Women's boxing gains a new weight class, while men's events lose one. Weightlifting classes have been reduced from 14 to 10.In shooting, the mixed skeet team event replaces the mixed team trap event, providing a new challenge for competitors.

Breaking: A Dance of Originality and ImprovisationBreaking, an electrifying dance form rooted in the Bronx and hip-hop culture, is set to make its Olympic debut this year. In Bengaluru, a Red Bull-hosted Cypher offered a glimpse into the captivating world of this unique sport.Arif Chaudhury, known as B-Boy Flying Machine, is one of India's top breakers. He credits his latest move to a vivid dream. "I dreamt I was in a tunnel and suddenly there was a wall in front of me. I told myself 'Damn, I need to break this'. I punched the wall and got out. Based on that visual, I created a move."Breaking is a fusion of hip-hop, acrobatics, and flow art. Inspiration can come from anywhere, even cartoon characters. "When you dance, you're often playing a character," says Arif. "In breaking, there's so much room to imagine, create, and just make something look magical."In competitions, breakers battle one-on-one in a circle. The music is controlled by a DJ, and breakers must improvise their moves to the beat. Judges evaluate their musicality, execution, technique, and originality."How much you're in sync with the music with your freestyle, how clean your execution is, how sound your technique is, and how original you are, is what is looked at by judges," explains Arif. "Most of us have signature moves that we use in each round."Improvisation is crucial. Breakers must be able to adapt to sudden changes in tempo and outmaneuver their opponents. "There's some amount of showmanship and undermining your opponent involved," says Arif.At the Bengaluru Cypher, Arif emerged victorious in the 16-man field, while B-Girl Glib (Simran Ranga) won the women's category. They will represent India at the Red Bull BC One World Finals in Rio de Janeiro.Despite the absence of Indian breakers at the Paris Olympics, Arif remains optimistic. "It's tough and depressing, but we're going to take some time to get there," he says. "It's great that breaking will be on a huge stage like the Olympics. It will hopefully bring more attention, awareness, and sponsors."Arif is working to establish an academy in Bhopal to promote breaking at the grassroots level. "We're trying to create a curriculum and take it to other states too," he says. "In India, the breaking scene is still very underground. Maybe when more people see it on TV, they'll want to dive in."