Australia: The World DanceSport Federation (WDSF) has announced Rachael Gunn the World No. 1 ranking female breakdancer. Despite a polarizing performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics that earned her a score of zero, Raygun achieved this milestone.
In response to the backlash, the WDSF issued a statement defending its ranking methodology, objecting to addressing issues of how athletes are evaluated. The sport’s governing body clarified that the rankings are based on athletes’ top four performances over the past 12 months, with Olympic events and qualifiers excluded from consideration.
Gunn, 37, has defended her position as Australia’s top B-girl, despite her disappointing Olympic showing. The university lecturer cut out to score points in all three rounds of competition in Paris, with routines that included unorthodox moves such as the sprinkler and kangaroo hop.
The WDSF has been battered not just for its rankings but for its overall credibility within the breakdancing community. Its decision to exclude Olympic performances from the rankings, along with a period without ranking events leading up to the Games, has raised eyebrows. This situation caused athletes like Gunn to maintain high rankings with criteria on a limited number of competitions.
Gunn’s top ranking is attributed to her first-place finish at the Oceania continental championships in October 2023, earning her 1,000 points. The WDSF acknowledged that the current rankings should be considered alongside recent global competition results for a more accurate picture of the sport’s competitive landscape.
The controversy surrounding Raygun’s Olympic performance made to split the breakdancing community. While some supporters stand by the athlete, others protested that her performance was detrimental to the sport’s credibility. The debate has also reignited questions about whether Breaking, which made its Olympic debut in Paris but is not scheduled for the 2028 Games in Los Angeles, is suited to such a structured competitive format.
Zack Slusser, vice-president of Breaking for Gold USA, was among those critical of the WDSF, asserting that the federation lacks legitimacy within the breaking community. He claimed that breakers participated in WDSF events solely to earn points for Olympic qualification and have no interest in continuing with its competitions post-Paris.
IMPORTANT | IAMTN Summit 2024 to explore future of cross-border payments
