Just hours before representing Australia at the Paris 2024 opening ceremony, Rachael Gunn experienced a panic attack in the Olympic village, realizing the enormity of her situation. Known as Raygun in the breaking community, she was set to compete in the breakdancing event, a debut for the Olympics.

Feeling like an imposter, the 38-year-old expressed her fears in a new Netflix documentary. "I just could not stop crying... I had a panic attack. 'What am I doing? What have I done? Should I be doing this?'" she revealed.

Despite this initial anxiety, Gunn later joined her fellow Australian athletes sailing down the River Seine. However, her Olympic journey concluded less than two weeks later, after failing to win any of her three round-robin battles. Yet, she found satisfaction in her performance, especially after receiving praise from the world champion Nicka (Dominika Banevic).

Gunn's unconventional moves, including a sprinkler and kangaroo hop, unexpectedly went viral, leading to memes and mentions from celebrities like Adele and Chris Hemsworth. Even Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese praised her efforts, calling it "pretty wild" how she became a topic of conversation.

However, the spotlight also brought scrutiny, with conspiracy theories questioning her qualifications due to her husband and trainer, Samuel Free, being falsely linked to the selection committee. "It was really tough when mine and Sammy's credibility... were being called into question," Gunn stated, revealing the toll it took on her mental health.

To cope, she began a course of anti-depressants and embraced her journey as an athlete, having qualified through the Oceania Breaking Championships in Sydney in 2023. Gunn's training intensified, but personal challenges arose when her mother suffered three brain aneurysms.

In the documentary, Gunn emphasizes her strategy to focus on creativity over athleticism, saying, "For me, my strength is creativity... why don't we put all our eggs in that basket and really try and wow them?" Her coach, Lowe Napalan, only saw her routine shortly before the performance, creating a sense of suspense.

Overall, Gunn's experience at the Paris 2024 Olympics reflects both the challenges and triumphs of competing on such a significant stage.