Olympic breakdancer hits back at critics after fans mock her viral routine

An Olympic breakdancer has hit back at her critics after her routine when viral on social media.

Breakdancing made its Olympic debut on Friday, with Japan taking gold in the B-Girls event.

Japan's Ami Yuasa won the gold medal battle, with Lithuania’s Dominika Banevic winning the silver and Liu Qingyi taking the bronze medal.

Olympics fans were divided over whether breaking - which has not been included on the events programme for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles - should feature at the Games.

In particular, the performance of Australia’s Rachael Gunn during her Round Robin stage contest against France’s Sya Dembele drew criticism online.

After her moves were mocked on social media, the 36-year-old university lecturer hit back at her critics.

"All my moves are original,” Gunn said on the inspiration for her performance.

"Creativity is really important to me. I go out there and I show my artistry. Sometimes it speaks to the judges, and sometimes it doesn’t. I do my thing, and it represents art. That is what it is about.

"What I wanted to do was come out here and do something new and different and creative – that’s my strength, my creativity."

Gunn failed to win a single point in any of her three contests, including against France's 16-year-old representative.

The Australian - who wore Australia's official Olympic uniform rather than traditional breaking clothes - explained that her opponents greater athleticism meant she had to be creative.

my five year old niece after she says “watch this!” : pic.twitter.com/KBAMSkgltj

— alex (@alex_abads) August 9, 2024

"I was never going to beat these girls on what they do best, the dynamic and the power moves, so I wanted to move differently, be artistic and creative because how many chances do you get that in a lifetime to do that on an international stage.

"I was always the underdog and wanted to make my mark in a different way."

When asked if she thought whether breaking deserved to be an Olympic sport, she replied: "What is an Olympic sport? It’s so broad here... what are the similarities between dressage and artistic swimming and the 100m sprint and the pentathlon.

"Breaking is clearly athletic and it clearly requires a whole level of dedication across a number of different aspects so I feel like it meets that criteria. And it’s really bringing a new level of excitement."