- Israel Adesanya has backed Raygun
- The Aussie breakdancer has been widely mocked online
- Adesanya revealed why he will not mock the 36-year-old
Rachael Gunn has received support from UFC superstar and fellow dancing enthusiast Israel Adesanya.
Gunn, better known by her stage name Raygun, became an overnight internet sensation at the Olympic Games after her breakdancing routine went disastrously wrong in Paris.
The 36-year-old scored zero points from a possible 54 and was widely mocked on social media, with Australian Olympic bosses saying they were monitoring her mental health as a result.
Raygun has received support from the likes of Anthony Albanese and Jacqui Lambie in the wake of her pitiful display, and now Adesanya has added his name to the growing list of Raygun backers.
The former middleweight champion, who regularly dances to the Octagon before his bouts, explained why he isn’t interested in mocking the university lecturer.
‘Raygun, it is what it is, use it as fuel and go and get better – not even at the Olympics – just showcase yourself over and over again and just enjoy the art of breaking,’ Adesanya told the Herald Sun.
‘I try not to make fun of her, because it’s a win for street culture to be featured on the world stage like that at the Olympics.
‘And we got made fun of for busking back in the day when we were kids, so it’s not right me making fun of her on the world stage.
Israel Adesanya has shared his thoughts on the Raygun Olympic Games controversy
![Rachael Gunn, 36, went viral following her disastrous performance in Paris](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/08/13/13/88478793-13738987-image-a-22_1723552813059.jpg)
Rachael Gunn, 36, went viral following her disastrous performance in Paris
‘Some of those memes were fire though, don’t get me wrong. It was hilarious, but, yeah, I’m not gonna hop on her as well.’
Adesanya enjoys breaking and still dances to let off steam. He wowed fight fans when he performed a specially-choreographed dance before his title victory over Robert Whittaker at UFC 243.
The 34-year-old did, however, question the introduction of breaking at the Olympic Games.
‘Break dancing as an Olympic sport was kinda weird for me – it’s art, it’s subjective,’ he said. ‘It’s just new, and I’m just not used to it yet.
‘I still like break dancing as in the Red Bull BC One (annual breaking competition). That’s the pinnacle of break dancing in the world.
‘And who’s judging the Olympics? Who are they, what do they know?
‘But the whole Olympics was a bit weird for me.
![UFC star Adesanya, who breakdances as a hobby, said he will not mock Raygun](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/08/13/13/88478833-13738987-image-a-23_1723552821392.jpg)
UFC star Adesanya, who breakdances as a hobby, said he will not mock Raygun
‘These athletes generate billions, but where does the money go? They get none of it. Everyone’s there to watch the athletes and they do it all for prestige. This isn’t the 1600s, they should be getting paid.
‘So, yeah, the Olympics were strange.’
Adesanya fights arch rival Dricus du Plessis at UFC 305 in Perth this weekend.
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