Despite the criticism, singer Adele praised Gunn for her courage in performing, calling it her 'favorite thing' from the Olympics.

Gunn emphasized that dancing should bring joy and should not make anyone feel bad about their style, indicating her desire to promote positivity in dance.

Although she plans to step back from elite competitions, Gunn will continue to breakdance for enjoyment and participate in community dance events.

Rachael Gunn, a 37-year-old Australian breaker, has announced her retirement from competitive breakdancing following a wave of ridicule after her performance at the Paris Olympics.

Gunn faced intense scrutiny and online criticism, which she stated made it challenging for her to consider future competitive battles.

Despite the backlash, Gunn defended her qualification for the Olympics, noting that she earned her spot by winning the Oceania Championships, which was judged by nine international judges.

Her Olympic debut was marred by controversy, as she received a disappointing score of 0 in all three of her matches, leading to widespread mockery and viral memes about her unconventional dance moves.

Gunn's performance included a kangaroo hop and an Australian-themed outfit, which drew significant attention and parody from celebrities like Jimmy Fallon.

In a television interview, Gunn expressed her feelings of surrealism regarding the situation, stating that the negative reactions were often based on misunderstandings of breakdancing.

Gunn's experience at the Olympics has led to a surge in her public profile, including features in magazines and online promotions since her return to Australia.

In response to the backlash, a petition questioning her selection for the Olympic team gained over 57,000 signatures but was later removed for misinformation violations.

Gunn's PhD thesis reflects her deep involvement in the Australian breaking community, titled 'Deterritorializing gender in Sydney’s breakdancing scene: a B-girl’s experience of B-boying.'