Team USA

Edra showcased top rocking, down rocking, the pencil halo, and windmills.

There’s a buzz in San Diego—celebratory and argumentative—about last week’s Olympics in Paris, particularly the face-off between Australian breaker Rachael “Raygun” Gunn and San Diego’s Logan “Logistx” Edra.

The debate surrounding breaking (breakdancing) and its place in the Olympics isn’t new. It dates back to the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics when Lionel Richie’s performance, surrounded by breakers, introduced the world to this acrobatic dance form. The Reader even featured the local North Park crew, Ominus Jam Patrol, in 1985, using the term “breakdancing” to describe their moves. The term "breakdancing," used by fellow media outlets and us, combined the two terms to reach a larger worldwide audience, where English is their second or third spoken language. The term was never accepted by many breakers in the U.S.

Fast forward to last year, when San Diego residents cheered on local athletes in sports like skateboarding, rugby, cycling, archery, and surfing as they prepped to compete and win. However, breaking’s Olympic debut sparked heated debate. 

The controversy surrounding Olympic breaking intensified in 2023 when rumors circulated that it might not make it to the 2028 Olympics—a fear realized when the century-old committee declined to include it. The skepticism deepened with the selection of judges for the breaking competition for the Paris event. Chula Vista’s B-boy CJ voiced his concerns: “I only heard of two judges, Moy and Intact. I don't know the other seven people. TBH, it’d be like me judging a call in polo.”

Adding to the torch's fire, former Saved By The Bell star, break dancer, and popper Mario Lopez, a Chula Vista native, reposted a video on Instagram of Raygun battling Logan Edra. The video's playful commentary on the Aussie breaker's performance, featuring bunny-hopping moves and exaggerated poses, was intended as a joke but quickly ignited a wave of online backlash. As this article goes to print this morning, even Grammy-nominated Snoop Dogg still posts Raygun meme videos.

The controversy nearly peaked during the preliminary round-robin breaking competition, where Edra faced Gunn. The judging panel, consisting of nine individuals, scored the performances based on vocabulary, technique, execution, musicality, and originality. Sub-criteria mentioned by B-Boy Intact on his Instagram added to the complexity of the scoring process.

Edra’s performance was a masterclass in breaking, showcasing top rocking, down rocking, and intricate power moves like the pencil halo and windmills. Her routine culminated in a freeze, followed by a back arch and a handstand, demonstrating core strength and balance. Her final move, a dramatic stare-down at Gunn, sealed her victory in the judges’ eyes. From San Ysidro to O'Side, we all cheered when the highlights circulated.

Gunn's performance, however, was unconventional and lacked some of the fundamental elements of breaking. Her routine, which included lying on the ground in a prayer pose and rolling her body, drew ridicule from the San Diego breaking community. Despite the criticism, her originality was undeniable, though it wasn’t enough to advance her to the next round.

San Diego County locals, including former breaker and current radio personality Xavier The X-Man, didn’t hold back their opinions. “I strongly believe Raygun was there to troll the event,” Xavier told me. “Breaking has always been a freeform dance of expression from the streets. She disrespected the culture by doing that. She tarnished our shining moment and made hip hop, breaking in the Olympics, the laughing sport of the games.” His sentiments were echoed by many of his 96,000 Facebook followers, who felt the Aussie's performance was out of place on such a prestigious stage.

NBC 7 News captured the mixed reactions with a headline: “Cringy Moves and a White B-Girl’s Durag Prompt Questions About Olympic Breaking’s Authenticity.” The article sparked further debate.

Amid the back and forths, one San Diego mom brought the focus back to Edra: “What REALLY stinks is that the real b-girls and b-boys in the comp who deserved to be there aren’t getting as much media attention as these stories. So, I’m gonna shout out Logan Edra. Proud of you, girl!”

But how does one make it to the Olympics as a breaker? I spoke with Melissa Adao, a 45-year-old local breaker who has danced with Edra in the past. “Logan [Edra] has been preparing for this moment since she started breaking as a child,” Adao explained.

Adao, who teaches hip-hop dance through her @theconfidentdancers Instagram account, said Edra's journey involved competing in several World Dance Sport Federation Olympic qualification events, racking up enough points to rank among the top 16 highest-scoring b-girls worldwide, and securing her spot in the Paris Olympics. On the other hand, Raygun earned her Olympic berth by winning first place at the federation's Oceania Continental championship in Sydney last October.

“Although the general public has cyberbullied Raygun,” Adao noted, “the overall breaking community stands behind her.”

Edra and her two American Breaking teammates didn’t make it to the semi-finals, but B-boy Victor did, earning Team USA a bronze medal.

Adao sheds more light on what might help local breakers if the activity is to be included in future Olympics. “Breakers from other countries have government funding to support them; the financial support allows breakers to solely focus on their craft.”

In other Olympic news, San Diego won 27 medals in 12 sports, two of which were in skateboarding events. Skateboarding's first appearance at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics was also controversial.