Paris Olympics: Aussies lash out after learning their tax dollars have been paying for Raygun’s bizarre university breakdancing studies: ‘This is an absolute disgrace’

Australian taxpayers, facing one of the worst cost of living problems in decades, are furious after learning that Olympic athlete Rachael ‘Raygun’ Gunn received government funding to learn breakdancing.

Raygun’s failed routine at the 2024 Paris Olympics has been well-documented, with her failing to score a single point in three fights and being ridiculed worldwide on social media.

The Sydneysider took up the sport in 2012 and earned a PhD in culture breaking prior to her utterly ridiculous performance at the Games.

Raygun is a lecturer at Macquarie University in Sydney, Department of Media, Communications, Creative Arts, Language and Literature.

Queensland Senator Gerard Rennick cited Raygun’s official Macquarie University profile in a Facebook post after she went viral, pointing out that she had received taxpayer money to study breakdancing at the institution.

And Australians struggling to make ends meet are not happy.

“There is a lot of talk about Australia’s breakdancing representative at the Olympics,” Senator Rennick posted.

‘I’m more interested in her actual profession. She studied at Macquarie University for her BA in Contemporary Music, graduating in 2009, and her PhD in Cultural Studies, graduating in 2017.

Gunn was widely criticized for her break routine during the Olympics and became a global viral sensation

‘Raygun’s dissertation focused on ‘the intersection of gender and Sydney’s innovative culture… her publications include:

1. The ‘relay systems’ in doing cultural studies: experimenting with the ‘body without organs’ in b-girling practice
2. Nocturnal Paradox: How Breakdance Reveals the Potential of the Night
3. Where are the #bgirls? Politics of (in)visibility in the breaking culture

“In the same way that breakdancing has no place in the Olympics, it is fair to say that taxpayers should not be providing subsidies to universities to study or teach it,” he continued.

‘Nothing against breakdancing by the way. It is certainly an honest recreational activity, but that’s it. It should not be subsidized.

It also begs the question: how many obscure and useless courses do universities offer that are subsidized by taxpayers?

“It also shows that just because you have a PhD in something doesn’t mean you’re good at it.”

Queensland Senator Gerard Rennick has questioned why Raygun received taxpayer money to do her PhD on breaking

In 2024, the government will make $29.2 billion in recurring funding available for all education sectors.

That includes $1.1 billion over five years, from 2023 to 2024, and another $2.7 billion from 2028 to 2029 to 2034 to 2035 for the first phase of the tertiary education system reforms.

Research students like Gunn have access to grants and funding to cover the costs associated with conducting their research or fieldwork.

While Gunn’s specifics have not been made public, PhD students like the breakdancer can receive up to $66,000 in tax-free government aid each year.

This includes a living allowance of up to $35,000 per year, plus a top-up scholarship of approximately $21,000 per year.

Australians are furious after discovering their tax money was used to fund Gunn’s PhD on breaking culture

His post generated thousands of comments criticizing the university and other higher education institutions for wasting taxpayer money on frivolous studies.

“It’s a complete disgrace that students waste their time on this these days,” someone wrote.

“Makes a complete parody of the athletes and their families who literally sacrifice everything to achieve the highest honor in sports,” added another.

“This performance was an absolute disgrace. We have incredibly skilled dancers in this country. And why on earth do we need an investigation into breaking? The more I find out about where my tax money goes, the more unhappy I am about paying it,” fumed another.

And another posted: ‘A complete disgrace. My first boyfriend was a breakdancing champion, even went to the States for competitions, this was not that.’

Gunn also had her defenders, however. Some felt that Senator Rennick and others should not be the judges of what constitutes meaningful education and what does not.

“All kinds of PhD research and studies contribute to our modern society and the narrow-minded claim that her work and professional life are a waste,” wrote one commentator.

‘A PhD gives one a broad range of professional skills and her professional/academic life contributes to the cultural wealth and knowledge base of her institution and students.’

Another added: ‘Keep politics out of sport. This lady worked hard for her sporting dreams and got to the Olympics. Clearly no one else in Australia could have represented us here, so raise a glass to Rachel Gunn.’