How did Rachael Gunn qualify to the 2024 Paris Olympics?

Rachael Gunn secured her spot in the Olympics by winning the Oceania Breaking Championships held in Sydney in October 2023. This event, organized by AUSBreaking and DanceSport Australia, brought together the best breakers from Australia and New Zealand.

Reports claiming that Gunn and her coach husband, Samuel Free, were part of the organizing body are untrue. Despite Gunn’s participation in various AUSbreaking competitions and her ranking as the top female break dancer in Australia in 2021, she is not among the founding members of the organization...

Oceania Breaking Championships and the qualification

The Oceania Breaking Championships (OBC) is a key event in the breaking calendar, especially as it serves as an Olympic qualifying event. Held over two days at the iconic Sydney Town Hall, the championships featured solo B-girl and B-boy categories. Competitors battled through pre-selection rounds and knockout stages, showcasing their skills in front of a panel of esteemed judges.

Gunn’s victory in the B-girl category was a significant achievement. This win not only earned her the gold medal of the competition but also a direct entry into the Top 16 of the 2024 Olympic Games.

Her unconventional performance at the Games, which included the “kangaroo hop,” sparked debate among fans and judges alike. Despite not scoring any points from the judges, Gunn’s originality and boldness were praised by many, including the head judge of the competition and the Australian Prime Minister.