"Number one in Halloween costumes, maybe"— Internet in disbelief as Raygun is ranked world number 1 after Olympics debacle 

On September 9, Australian breakdancer Rachel “Raygun” Gunn was announced as the new world number 1, despite her seemingly disappointing performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where she failed to score any points. The World DanceSport Federation (WDSF) released the latest ranking on the same day Raygun arrived in Sydney after spending over a month abroad.

Her world number 1 ranking is based on the 1000 points she earned after winning the WDSF Oceania Championship in October 2023, which helped her qualify for the Paris Olympics.

The latest news has rendered the internet in disbelief. For instance, Reddit user @CzaroftheUniverse commented under PlethoPappus’s post on the r/sports page by mocking Rachel Gunn’s world number 1 ranking.

A netizen mocks Raygun for her world number 1 ranking. (Image via Reddit)

Several others joined the conversation and shared similar reactions on X.

“This literally sums up this world right now. No talent but all the credit,” a person wrote.

“The number 1 looked up to be mocked?” one person wrote.

“Wait till next Olympics and she will be unrated,” wrote another.

Others ridiculed Raygun for the ranking and compared their own breaking skills to hers.

“Now I can say that when I'm drunk in a bar, I dance as well as the best breakdancer in the world,” a netizen wrote.

“So, I’m better at breakdancing than the number one breakdancer?” another netizen asked.

Some even called Rachel Gunn an “industry plant” and “joke,” among other things.

“The number one joke,” an individual wrote.

“Bruh talk about an industry plant,” wrote another.

Notably, Raygun is among three other Australians who were ranked in the top 10 by the World DanceSport Federation, including Holy Molly (world number 4), Hannah (world number 5), and G-Clef (world number 8). Meanwhile, the three women from the USA, France, and Lithuania who beat Rachel Gunn at the 2024 Paris Olympics did not make it to the list.

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Raygun is taking a break from competing

In the first week of August, Rachel Gunn made headlines amid the Summer Olympics in Paris after exhibiting unconventional breaking movements during her performance, including squirming and hopping. She became an overnight internet meme and was called out and mocked for her breaking skills.

Moreover, she lost all three rounds at the round-robin (group) stage. She scored 18-0 in each, finishing second-last in the whole event ahead of a disqualified breakdancer, thus making people on the internet question how she qualified for the Olympics.

In the wake of widespread criticism, Raygun took to her social media and defended herself, saying she knew she would be unable to compete with her young opponents and simply wanted to “move differently, be artistic, and creative.” She said she wanted to “mark my way in a different way” by being the “underdog.”

Now, over a month later, her world number 1 ranking has come as a shock to everyone. In the wake of this, the 37-year-old breakdancer told The Project during an interview that she was taking a break from “breaking.”

“I don’t think I’ll be competing for a while. Not really wanting to be in the spotlight, breaking, competing. It’s been nice. It’s been a bit of a process to try and start dancing again. Like, that’s actually been tough,” the Macquarie University lecturer said.

“You know, it was my medicine, and then it turned into my source of stress. So, I’m really happy that it gets to go back to being my medicine. I can kind of finally feel free again. I’m looking forward to breaking, but, no, I don’t think I’ll compete for a while.”

Notably, Raygun has been spotted hanging out with English business tycoon Richard Branson and DJ Boy George following her rise to fame.

She has also signed a contract with influencer marketing agency Born Bred Talent and is reportedly set to compete in the upcoming season of Channel 10’s reality show I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! as per an insider source’s statement to New Idea Magazine.