Australian breakdancer Rachael ‘Raygun’ Gunn has broken her silence following intense criticism and online hate after her performance at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Gunn, a 36-year-old Sydney university professor, lost all her rounds in the breaking tournament and received zero points from the jury, finishing last. Her unique style, which included a ‘kangaroo dance’, sparked widespread mockery on social media and even drew comments from celebrities like Adele and Jimmy Fallon.In response to the backlash, Gunn released a statement on Instagram, saying, ‘I worked my butt off preparing for the Olympics and I gave my all’. She also clarified that ‘there are actually no points in breaking’ and that she took the competition seriously. Gunn has asked the media to respect her privacy and to ‘stop harassing my family, friends, the Australian breaking community, and the broader street dance community’.The Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) has strongly condemned an online petition that has garnered over 55,000 signatures, calling for an investigation into Gunn’s selection. AOC Chief Executive Officer Matt Carroll described the petition as ‘vexatious, misleading and bullying’, stating that it contains ‘numerous falsehoods’ designed to ‘engender hatred’ against Gunn. The AOC has demanded the immediate removal of the petition from the change.org website.Carroll emphasized that Gunn was selected through a ‘transparent and independent qualification process’ approved by the World DanceSport Federation and the International Olympic Committee. The AOC has also refuted claims that Gunn’s husband, Samuel Free, was involved in the selection process.Despite the controversy, some athletes have come to Gunn’s defense. Double gold medalist Jessica Fox stated, ‘People are so quick to be mean. She doesn’t deserve that’. The incident has sparked discussions about online bullying and the pressure faced by Olympic athletes.As a result of this controversy and other factors, breaking will not be returning to the Olympics in 2028.
Key points
- Rachael ‘Raygun’ Gunn faced severe online backlash after her Olympic breakdancing performance.
- The Australian Olympic Committee strongly defended Gunn’s selection process and condemned the online petition against her.
- Gunn has spoken out, asking for privacy and stating she took the competition seriously.
- Breaking will not be returning to the Olympics in 2028.
Contradictions👾While some sources state that Gunn received zero points, Gunn herself clarified that ‘there are actually no points in breaking’.
This discrepancy may be due to different scoring systems or misunderstanding of the sport’s judging criteria.