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Who is Raygun’s breakdancing coach and partner Sammy the Free? Meet Rachael Gunn’s husband Samuel
He was the coach behind one of the Paris Olympics' most iconic moments
BREAKDANCING made its Olympic debut at the 2024 Paris games.
Find out about the husband and coach of Australian competitor Raygun, who sprinkled some Aussie flavour into her notorious routine.
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Who is Raygun's husband Sammy?
Samuel Free, AKA Sammy The Free, is a professional breakdancer from Australia.
He's been dancing from an early age, and has a number of titles to his name.
He'd been tipped to represent his country when breakdancing was announced as an Olympic sport for the 2024 games in Paris, but a knee injury meant he was unable to compete.
Instead he coached his wife Rachael Gunn, AKA Raygun.
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She earned her Olympic place after qualifying at the Oceania Breaking Championships in 2023.
But despite previewing her routine at the games as being full of "Aussie flavour", it didn't go down well with judges.
Her routine also received a lot of online ridicule, as Raygun decided to break from convention and throw some unique moves.
This led to fans giving her moves names such as "the kangaroo".
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Others compared her dancing to a toddler.
How long has Sammy The Free coached Raygun?
Sammy The Free has been Raygun's coach for a number of years, having originally introduced her to breakdancing shortly after they met.
Kid Karam demos Breaking
She says he's been a constant source of encouragement for her.
Rachael told The Sydney Morning Herald: "He encouraged me to give it a go, but it was hard and overwhelming.
"A woman's body is different to a man's – we have hips – so when a crew mate would say, 'Just kick up,' I'd be like, 'That doesn't work for me.'
"But Sammy recognised that, which made me feel empowered."
Raygun's journey to the Olympics involved a lot of training for the couple.
I never thought I’d be going to the Olympics one day – but Sammy could see potential."
Raygun
They spent up to four hours a day, working out in the gym and also dancing outside on the street at night.
But it wasn't all smooth sailing.
She added: "I got annoyed when he kept pushing me – I never thought I’d be going to the Olympics one day – but Sammy could see potential.
"Sammy probably would’ve liked to have been competing, too, but we had a limited number of people in Australia with the expertise needed to coach.
"He may not be performing, but his mark will be in all my moves."
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When did Raygun and Sammy The Free Meet?
Raygun and Sammy The Free met whilst they were at university in Sydney in 2008.
Sam is credited with getting Rachael into breakdancing.
This was something new for her - she'd grown up doing ballroom, jazz and tap dancing, but began breakdancing in the early 2010s.
Speaking to Australian magazine Body & Soul, she said: "I didn’t even know there was a breaking scene in Sydney until I met him.
"He took me to one of his training sessions and I was the shy girl sitting in the corner watching the guys train.
"But I'd always been a dancer – I'd done jazz, ballroom and tap – and I was interested in learning."
How long have Raygun and Sammy The Free been married?
Raygun and Sammy The Free got married in 2018, ten years after they met.
They put their focus onto Rachael's breaking career following Sammy's knee injury.
Despite admitting they sometimes find it difficult going from husband to coach, Sammy has spoken proudly at her performance at the Olympics.
In a Facebook post, he said: “The main thing is she represented Australia and breaking at the Olympics with courage and dignity.
“It comes naturally for some of them, not so much for Rachael. It is part of the culture.”
Raygun's also had praise from Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
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He said: "She’s had a go representing our country and that’s a good thing.”
It looks like she won't get another chance though - it's been confirmed breaking won't be one of the events at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
What are the key moves of breaking and how is it judged?
THERE are five key fundamentals to look out for from the breakers at the Paris 2024 Olympics:
TOP ROCK
This is stand-up dancing, routines always start with this and feature cross-step and Salsa step.
FOOTWORK
When breakers are down on all fours from a low squat position, doing footwork patterns and steps including hooks and kicks.
GO DOWNS
This is the transition from Top Rock to Footwork, including the Knee Switch and Rock Drop.
FREEZES
Where breakers hold a position or pose during a routine, acting as a pause or ‘comma’ before going again - from the simple to the extraordinary.
POWER MOVES
These are the big wow moves, the ultimate crowd-pleasers, the impressive show-stoppers: flicks, tricks, headspins, air flares, munchmills or windmills.
B-Boys and B-Girls are judged on three categories...
- Body - this is the physical aspect and incorporates the execution and the flow of the dance by the breakers
- Soul - this is the interpretation aspect, how the breakers interpret the music, the competition, the specific battle, the room and how they display their character and bounce off the energy
- Mind - this is the artistic aspect, taking into consideration the creativity of the breakers