‘Travesty’: How the Olympics’ breaking farce was allowed to happen

A look back at breaking’s murky entry into the Olympics - and Australia’s qualification process - explains how Paris ended up in this mess.

Rachael “Raygun” Gunn was set up to fail.

The steps leading up to her “lamb to the slaughter” moment show just what a farce the whole Olympics breaking episode has been - from start to finish.

Gunn’s moves on breaking’s first ever day as an Olympic sport have divided the world with some adoring her self-deprecating style — while others deem her performance was not worthy to be included in the world’s most elite sporting competition.

The 36-year-old Macquarie University lecturer has smiled in the face of one of the most brutal social media backlashes of the entire Games.

The “B-Girl” said she came to Paris wanting to leave a mark - and she has certainly done that.

Australia's Rachael Gunn, known as Raygun, was set up to fail. (Photo by Odd ANDERSEN / AFP)
Australia's Rachael Gunn, known as Raygun, was set up to fail. (Photo by Odd ANDERSEN / AFP)

But there’s a murkiness to why she was there in the first place.

Breaking will not be returning for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles - and Brisbane Olympic officials will get the ultimate say on whether the sport will be resuscitated in eight years’ time.

Judging on the largely scathing reviews of Gunn’s performance, the sport’s hopes of ever returning to the Olympics are the same as the Aussie’s score after three “battles” at the La Concorde Urban Park. Zero.

It is obvious, however, that Gunn’s deliberately daggy lawn bowls ensemble, kangaroo hops and sprinkler moves are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to explaining how this trainwreck charged to its doom.

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