In a devastating shock to fans worldwide, Raygun, the breakdancing phenom who rose to fame through viral videos showcasing his explosive style and charisma, announced he no longer competes professionally. He has said in reaction from the Olympic community had just been too much to handle.
Known for boldness and individuality, Raygun’s style is a simple yet bold combination of creativity and defiance that strikes in the millions of hearts. However, he has expressed displeasure with how breakdancing was judged and represented on the Olympic stage: “The Olympics brought much-needed attention to breaking,” he posted on social media, “but the format and judging criteria just didn’t capture what this art form is all about.”.
Olympic Debut Was Breaking’s Time to Shine. Or at Least That Was the Idea of the Game. For Raygun, breaking’s competitive spirit has stifled its essence. “Breaking was born in the streets, and it is a form of freedom of expression for individuals,” he says. “Forcing it into this sports framework just doesn’t make sense.”.
Raygun’s resulted in an explosion of approval from fans and other dancers, who share common concerns that the sport has lost its way in the Olympics. Breaking was once promoted by fans for breaking boundaries; however, now it has lost its integrity due to the scope of rules and judging criteria.
There has been no direct response from the Olympic Committee about Raygun’s speech, but whether breaking should still be in formal competition has been debated. Breaking has some optimism within the community that the Olympics will be beneficial to its strengthening as a global sport, but others fear it might detach the activity further from its roots and substance.
Although he’s leaving the mainstream competitions, Raygun told reporters that he will continue breaking on his own terms. “This ain’t the end of my journey,” he wrote on social media. “I will still be creating, pushing limits, and repping what breaking truly stands for.”
Raygun’s move has brought to the forefront the tension between authenticity and mainstream recognition, raising an issue of how street dance is going to evolve. For now, Raygun’s move serves as an important reminder to hold onto one’s roots, no matter what stage.
