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It's taken me a long time to process Olympic experience - Raygun

Australian Olympic breakdancer Rachael Gunn - known as Raygun - tells BBC Sport about the aftermath of her extraordinary experience at the 2024 Olympics.

It's taken me a long time to process Olympic experience - Raygun

Rachael Gunn, competing under the name Raygun, faced a panic attack during her preparation for the Olympic breakdancing event. The 38-year-old, a university lecturer by profession, found herself overwhelmed by the environment of experienced athletes. Known for her unconventional moves, Gunn's performance in the debut breaking event at the 2024 Paris Olympics gained significant attention, with memes and even a reference by Adele.

Despite the success, she faced scrutiny and conspiracy theories, including claims of nepotism related to her husband and trainer. The revelations took a toll on her mental health, with Gunn feeling her life was crumbling. However, through the making of a documentary about her experience, Gunn regained a sense of agency and is now excited about her future in breaking.

Written by urgent.news from BBC Sport's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.

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