It seems Adele has found herself a new favorite athlete, and her name is Raygun!
During her concert in Munich, Germany, on Saturday, August 10, the “Someone Like You” singer, 36, took a break from her set to gush about what she called the “best” part of the 2024 Paris Olympics: the electrifying and unconventional performance by Australian breakdancer Rachael Gunn, better known as Raygun.
Breaking, also known as breakdancing, made its Olympic debut on Friday, August 9, and Raygun’s routine quickly became a viral sensation, capturing the attention of fans and celebrities alike, including Adele. The Team Australia competitor’s unique and creative style stood out in the competition, making waves across social media and earning the admiration of the British singer.
During her performance at Messe München, a venue custom-built for her residency in Munich, Adele shared her newfound love for Raygun with the audience. In a moment of playful candor, she described how Raygun’s performance had been the highlight of her day, and possibly the entire Olympic Games, for her and her friends.
“I have to ask you because it’s all that me and my friends have been talking about since last night, after the show and today,” Adele said, addressing the crowd. “And I’m not saying anything, you know, but I think it’s the best thing that’s happened in the Olympics the entire time — did anyone see the breakdancing lady?”
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Adele went on to praise the inclusion of breaking in the Olympics as “f—ing fantastic,” but humorously admitted that she wasn’t entirely sure if Raygun’s routine was meant to be taken seriously. “But either way, it has made me very, very happy,” she added with a laugh.
The singer couldn’t stop raving about how much joy the performance had brought her, saying, “Me and my friends have been s—ting ourselves laughing for 24 hours.” She then urged anyone who hadn’t seen Raygun’s performance to watch it immediately. “If you haven’t seen it, please leave the show and Google it, ‘cause it is LOLs,” Adele sang, emphasizing just how funny she found the routine. “It is so f—ing funny.”
Raygun’s performance was part of the Round Robin breaking competition, where b-girls (female breakers) and b-boys faced off in one-on-one battles, showcasing their freestyle moves to a panel of judges. The event, described on the Olympics’ official website, highlighted the athletes’ ability to adapt their style and improvise to the DJ’s beats, aiming to win the first-ever Olympic medals in breaking.
Although Raygun eventually lost to other top competitors, including Team USA’s b-girl Logistx, France’s Syssy, and Lithuania’s Nicka, her routine sparked both online criticism and praise for its originality. Responding to the reactions, Raygun explained in an interview with ESPN that her focus was on creativity rather than trying to outdo her competitors in power moves.
“I was never going to beat these girls on what they do best — their power moves,” Raygun said. “What I bring is creativity.” She emphasized that all her moves are original, and that expressing her artistry on the dance floor is what matters most to her. “Creativity is really important to me. I go out there, and I show my artistry. Sometimes it speaks to the judges, and sometimes it doesn’t. I do my thing, and it represents art. That is what it is about.”
Adele’s enthusiastic endorsement of Raygun highlights how even the most unconventional performances can resonate with people in unexpected ways, turning a moment of Olympic competition into a viral cultural touchstone.
