Dance Federation Exposes Evidence of Australian Breaker’s High Ranking
The World Dance Sport Federation clarified why Australian B-girl Raygun is ranked higher than the Olympic gold medalist.
Australian breaker Rachael “Raygun” Gunn holds the top spot in the World DanceSport Federation (WDSF) rankings despite not scoring at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Gunn’s performance at the Olympics caused confusion and amusement globally, with comedic skits and memes following her kangaroo-like dance routine that mimicked a garden sprinkler.
The WDSF released a statement on Sept. 11 explaining the rationale behind ranking Gunn as the top female breaker.
Despite fellow Olympic contender and gold medalist B-girl Ami Yuasa from Japan, Gunn ranks higher in the WDSF standings.
The federation addressed concerns with its rankings and clarified that Olympic results and qualifiers did not factor into the rankings.
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“The WDSF Breaking World Ranking List is dictated by the WDSF Breaking Rules and Regulations Manual (BRRM) and is updated based on an athlete’s top four performances within the last 12 months,” the statement read.
“Points earned in these competitions are valid for 52 weeks from the event date.”
The federation revealed that they avoided scheduling WDSF ranking events during the Olympics to let dancers focus on the games.
“Given the unusual circumstances this year, after the Olympics, some athletes could be ranked based on a single event until WDSF ranking events resume later in the year, so the current rankings should be interpreted alongside recent global breaking competitions for an accurate view of the competitive landscape,” the statement concluded.
The federation also compared Gunn’s points to fellow B-girl Riko, who is second in the WDSF rankings.
Gunn secured 1,000 points at the Oceania Continental Championships in October 2023, expiring on Oct. 28.
Riko earned 1,000 points for winning the Breaking for Gold World Series in Hong Kong in December 2023, expiring on Dec. 16.
Despite equal points, federation rules favored Gunn due to her result from the continental championship.
The federation referred to section 5.1.1 of its rules manual in its decision but did not elaborate on the specific rule applied.
“They have not organized events that contribute to an accurate global ranking system,” Slusser claimed.
He added that breakers participated in WDSF events solely to accumulate enough points for Paris qualification.
Otherwise, there was no motivation for breakers to engage further with the federation, according to Slusser.
The Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) debunked allegations in August that Gunn used her influence with AUSBreaking and DanceSport Australia to secure an Olympic spot.
The AOC confirmed that Gunn and her husband, Samuel Free, had no authoritative positions in these organizations.
