Australian breakdancer becomes an internet sensation due to judges' all-zero scores

All 9 judges gave zero points to the Australian breakdancer.

In the breakdancing competition of the Paris Olympics on August 9, 2024, the performance of Australian athlete Rachel Gunn attracted widespread attention. She made "unconventional" moves during the competition and was not recognized by the judges. All 9 judges on the spot unanimously gave her a score of 0.

Gunn participated in the competition wearing a yellow and green sportswear. Her dance moves were quite different from the traditional breakdancing style. She abandoned the common cool techniques and smooth movements and interpreted the connotation of the dance in an almost "abstract" way. Her sudden change in performance surprised both the audience and the judges on the spot.

When explaining her performance, Gunn said, "I would never beat them in what they are best at, such as those energetic and powerful moves. So I wanted to be different, to be artistic and creative". "Don't be afraid to be different, to show yourself. You never know how far you can go."

This incident sparked heated discussions online. Some supported her unique performance, believing that she was courageous and creative; others didn't quite understand her performance. Australian Prime Minister Albanese believed that Gunn made an attempt, reflecting the Australian tradition of being courageous to try.

The breakdancing competition of this Paris Olympics is divided into two individual events for men and women. The 16 athletes in each individual event are divided into four groups and compete in a one-on-one format. The top two in each group advance to the quarterfinals. The knockout stage continues in the one-on-one "dance battle" format until the final champion is produced. The nine judges on the spot score the athletes based on their musicality, expressiveness, originality, technicality and completeness. In each round of the competition, the athletes need to show themselves as much as possible within the limited time.