It's taken me a long time to process Olympic experience, says breaker Raygun
Australian breakdancer Rachael Gunn discusses the intense pressure and panic attacks she experienced during the Paris 2024 Olympics. Despite facing significant online trolling and viral memes regarding her performance, she reflects on the experience with a sense of resilience.
Why it matters
The story highlights the intersection of mental health, social media scrutiny, and the high-stakes environment of elite international sports.
Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Rachael Gunn's Paris 2024 performance led to her facing trolling
Just hours before representing Australia at the Paris 2024 opening ceremony, Rachael Gunn had a panic attack in the middle of the Olympic village.
Thrust into an environment full of experienced athletes, it dawned on Gunn, whose professional background is as a university lecturer, what she had got herself into.
Known as Raygun when competing, she was about to take part in the breakdancing event - or breaking - which was making its Olympic debut.
"I felt like an imposter," said the 38-year-old breaker, during a new Netflix documentary about her experience at the Games.
She describes how she reacted when she saw someone she recognised from the Olympic team.
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