Raygun set for dubious new honour as tributes to the Olympic breakdancing appear ahead of Halloween
- Raygun, real name Rachael Gunn, competed in the Paris Olympics
- Becoming a popular costume choice for Halloween in Australia
- Footy fans are not amused after GWS players were fined for dressing up as Raygun
Raygun’s infamous Olympic routine has come back from the dead just in time for Halloween, with tributes to breakdancing already popping up on Australian lawns.
Raygun, real name Rachael Gunn, 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.
She was comprehensively defeated in all her battle rounds as her routine went viral, even mocked by the likes of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
In a huge twist, she returned him from Paris to be named the No. 1 breakdancer in the world, despite even coming close to winning a medal due to a quirk in the way dancers are judged.
Now she’s receiving a new honor on the front lawns of Australian homes, with handmade tributes to her routine posted ahead of Halloween on October 31.
The judges weren’t happy with Raygun’s Olympic routine, but millions of Australians were
A Melbourne artist created this tribute to Raygun and placed it on a nature strip
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 resident called radio station 3AW to let them know that the ‘sculpture’ had been placed on a nature strip in their suburb.
“After her huge breakdancing success in Paris, Raygun is now dancing in the streets of the north,” the caller said.
3AW presenter Ross Stevenson was stunned when he was shown an image of the tribute.
“That’s amazing,” he said.
‘That’s great. Someone put up a statue of Raygun.
“Is that in someone’s backyard or on a public road?”
Ahead of Halloween, another tribute to Raygun has been shared on social media this year
The Olympic break dancer will be a popular choice for decorations and costumes this Halloween
The caller replied: ‘It is on the public road, on the nature strip.’
Stevenson said: ‘That’s excellent.
‘Look at the balance they managed to achieve there with that statue. How do you do that?’
It’s not the only Raygun tribute created ahead of Halloween.
Another house in Melbourne has used a fake skeleton, posed it in the kangaroo hopping dance position and dressed it in the same tracksuit.
Another tribute to the skeleton has been captured at an unknown Australian location, complete with red glowing LED eyes.
Now the Sydney-based breakdancer can also expect a host of Aussies to dress up as her for the fun holiday occasion.
‘Now I want to know if I can buy a Raygun outfit somewhere. This would be a hot ticket item,” one person posted on social media platform X.
Raygun became an instant celebrity for her routine and got to party with Richard Brandon
Raygun, pictured with her husband (right), also had a run-in with pop star Boy George
However, not everyone is impressed as GWS footy fans remain furious over an apparent double standard.
Six GWS players were banned and seven others were fined by the AFL for inappropriate skits performed during their end-of-season celebrations.
That included sending Raygun in costume.
Some supporters believe this has opened a can of worms that could see AFL fans turning up to GWS games in Raygun costumes in 2025.
“I guarantee you’ll have fans come to the first Giants game dressed as RayGun,” one fan wrote.
“Then the AFL will have to make a call about whether they will take those people off the ground because it is ‘distasteful’.”