Rachael Gunn Biography: Husband, Age, Net Worth, Height, Parents, Career, Olympics, Academic Work

Rachael Louise Gunn, known as Raygun, is an Australian academic and former breakdancer who gained global attention at the 2024 Paris Olympics for her unconventional routines, combining performance with scholarly insight on hip-hop culture.

A lecturer at Macquarie University, she earned a PhD studying women’s experiences in Sydney’s male-dominated breakdancing scene. Gunn has competed at elite levels, reaching No. 1 in the World DanceSport Federation b-girl rankings in September 2024.

Profile

• Full Name: Rachael Louise Gunn
• Stage Name: Raygun
• Born: 2, September 1987
• Age: 38 years old
• Birthplace: Hornsby, New South Wales, Australia
• Nationality: Australian
• Occupation: Academic Lecturer, Former Competitive Breakdancer
• Height: 1.67m
• Parents: Mr. and Mrs. Gunn
• Siblings: Brendan Gunn
• Spouse: Samuel Free (m. 2018)
• Children: None
• Relationship: Married
• Net Worth: $500,000

Early Life and Education

Rachael Louise Gunn was born on September 2, 1987, in Hornsby, New South Wales, Australia, to Mr. and Mrs. Gunn, who kept their professional lives private while supporting her early artistic interests.

She grew up with her brother, Brendan, in a creative and nurturing environment. Gunn attended Barker College and later earned a Bachelor’s degree in Contemporary Music (2009) and a PhD in Cultural Studies (2017) from Macquarie University, with her dissertation exploring gender in Sydney’s breakdancing scene.

She is of Australian ethnicity, and her religious background is not publicly known.

Career

Rachael Louise Gunn first immersed herself in dance through jazz, tap, and ballroom styles during her youth, competing in ballroom events before her husband, Samuel Free, introduced her to breaking in 2008 while they were university students together.

Initially hesitant, she dove in during her mid-20s around 2011, training rigorously under Free’s guidance and entering her debut competition in 2012, where her focus on creative expression over power moves quickly set her apart in Sydney’s breaking scene.

By 2015, she was showcasing her skills in events like Red Bull BC One Cypher Australia, building a reputation for innovative routines that blended humor and cultural nods, all while balancing emerging academic pursuits that informed her evolving style.

Gunn’s path intertwined scholarship and sport as she paused competitions to complete her PhD, returning stronger in 2018 to claim victories like the 2023 Oceania Breaking Championships, securing her Olympic spot and briefly holding the world No. 1 ranking from the World DanceSport Federation.

Her research output, including publications on hip-hop’s cultural politics and youth subcultures, earned her a lecturing role at Macquarie University’s Department of Media, Communications, Creative Arts, Language, and Literature, where she advocates for breaking’s inclusion in academia.

This dual track peaked at the 2024 Paris Olympics, breaking’s debut, where her unorthodox performance—featuring a kangaroo hop and sprinkler—scored zero points but ignited global conversations on the sport’s emphasis on originality, as praised by head judge Martin Gilian for embodying breaking’s core spirit.

Rachael Louise Gunn retired from competitive breaking in November 2024, redirecting her energy toward academia, personal dance enjoyment, and potential media ventures like a signed talent deal with Born Bred Talent that hints at upcoming TV opportunities.

Her influence endures through scholarly contributions that challenge gender norms in street dance and inspire underrepresented voices in hip-hop, while her Olympic legacy—despite backlash—has amplified breaking’s visibility, drawing new enthusiasts to its freestyle ethos and proving that bold representation can redefine competitive boundaries.

Social Media

• Instagram Handle: @raygun_aus

Personal Life

Rachael Louise Gunn married Samuel Free in 2018 after meeting at university in 2008, where he introduced her to breaking and became her coach, supporting her through an ACL injury and helping shape her competitive focus.

The couple has no children and maintains a balanced life in Sydney, blending academic work, training, and occasional travel, including an extended European stay after the Olympics.

Net Worth

Rachael Louise Gunn has an estimated net worth of $500,000, primarily from her salary as a Macquarie University lecturer, supplemented by earnings from competitive breaking, research grants, and post-Olympic endorsements, including a talent management deal with Born Bred Talent.