The eccentric Australian breakdancer who took the Paris Olympics by storm suffered a huge setback when she tried to trademark the name she has become known by.
Rachael Gunn, also known by her nickname Raygun, became a source of worldwide ridicule during the Paris Olympics.
Dressed in an Australian tracksuit that looked more like a cricket uniform than a breakdancing outfit, Raygun jumped like a kangaroo and slithered across the floor like a snake in a routine that failed to impress the judges.
Now that she has returned to Australia after a European holiday, the divisive dancer appears to be striking while the iron is hot and making the most of her newfound fame.
However, the 37-year-old academic has failed to register the name Raygun as a trademark.
Gunn applied to register the name with the Australian Trademark Office on August 23.
She hopes to secure the name for use for a variety of purposes, including software, apparel and entertainment.
Unfortunately, Gunn’s claim was rejected earlier this month because it conflicted with pre-existing trademarks.
Breakdancer Rachel Gunn has failed to register her name ‘Raygun’ as a trademark
The Australian Olympian became a source of worldwide ridicule during the Paris Olympics
It’s not clear if Gunn will continue to pursue ownership of her name.
On Tuesday evening, Gunn launched a new competition on Instagram.
In the images, Raygun can be seen wearing an oversized white T-shirt, wide trousers and a denim shirt. She added a black bucket to her ensemble.
“I heard some of you think you can do better,” she says, staring down the barrel of the camera and preparing to dance.
‘Real?’ she adds incredulously, cracking her knuckles.
She is then seen striking her signature kangaroo pose before challenging her followers to the ultimatum: “Let’s figure it out.”
Raygun is then seen breaking out some of her signature dance moves in a stark white room in the heavily edited clip. At one point she even turns on her head.
At the end of the video, Raygun is seen grinning as the competition details for the finder.com.au promotion float above her head.
Gunn’s claim was dismissed earlier this month because it conflicted with pre-existing trademarks
Raygun is breakdancing again, and she’s throwing down the gauntlet to her haters in a new challenge that could win them $10,000
The winning solo dancer could take home a whopping $5,000 in prize money, of which $10,000 will be awarded to the best dance team.
It comes after Raygun recently debuted a new look in Australia’s Stellar Magazine.
During the cover shoot, Raygun ditched her green and gold tracksuit and baseball cap for a figure-hugging, electric blue dress with flared sleeves.
The academic turned breakdancer looks defiant as she places her hands on hips against a yellow nylon backdrop.
Raygun wore her hair in a long ponytail for the shoot and went for a bronzed makeup look with dark red lipstick.
She completed her look with a pair of black strappy heels.
Gun was completely transformed on the cover of Stellar Magazine last weekend
The accompanying cover line reads: ‘What Raygun did next?’, alongside a quote from the accompanying interview inside.
“You didn’t put me down. You didn’t succeed. I stand by what I did,” she says.
Raygun was comprehensively defeated in all her battle rounds in Paris, while her routine was mocked by the likes of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, and singer Adele.
In a huge twist, she returned from Paris and was named the No. 1 breakdancer in the world – despite not even coming close to winning a medal due to a quirk in the way dancers are judged.
But ahead of Halloween this week, she’s receiving a new honor on the front lawns of Australian homes, with handmade tributes to her routine.
A Melbourne resident has immortalized her kangaroo-hopping routine with a papier-mâché effigy, complete with Aussie tracksuit and Olympic flag.
The artist remains unknown, but a listener called radio station 3AW to report that the ‘sculpture’ had been placed on a nature strip in their suburb.
“After her huge breakdancing success in Paris, Raygun is now dancing on the streets of Melbourne,” the caller said.