Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
Australian breakdancer insists she took Games seriously despite widespread ridicule and calls for her qualification to be probed
Australian Olympian Rachael Gunn, better known as breakdancer “Raygun”, has described online abuse as “devastating” after a petition was launched demanding an investigation into her performance.
Gunn has been ridiculed online after failing to score a single point in her three round robin dance-offs at Paris 2024.
The 36-year-old, who is a Sydney university professor, went viral for her performances, one of which has been dubbed the “kangaroo dance” that featured in a routine that resulted in her losing by a total of 54-0 across her three match-ups.
But she has now broken her public silence since returning to Australia and detailed the hurt she has experienced, insisting that she took the competition seriously and prepared for the Olympics as any other competitor would.
“I just want to start by thanking all the people who have supported me. I really appreciate the positivity and I’m glad I was able to bring some joy into your lives. That’s what I hoped,” Gunn said in a self-shot video posted on Instagram.
“I didn’t realise that that would also open the door to so much hate, which has frankly been pretty devastating.
“While I went out there and I had fun, I did take it very seriously. I worked my butt off preparing for the Olympics. I gave my all — truly.”
“I’m honoured to have been a part of the Australian Olympic team and to be part of breaking’s [breakdancing’s] Olympic debut.”
The Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) on Thursday condemned an online petition that called for an investigation into Gunn’s selection, saying it contained falsehoods aimed at inciting hatred against her.
The petition on Change.org, which calls for an apology from Gunn as well as Australia’s Olympic chef de mission Anna Meares, had over 45,000 signatures by Thursday morning but was taken down the same day.
The AOC had written to Change.org demanding it take down the petition immediately, Carroll added.
The petition has since had a banner added which reads: “This petition is under review by moderators who enforce our community guidelines.
“We have received flags from our users that the facts in this petition may be contested. You should consider researching this issue before signing.”
Meares had already defended Gunn from trolling in a media conference last Saturday.
In a statement, AOC chief executive Matt Carroll said the petition attacking Gunn was “vexatious, misleading and bullying”.
“The petition has stirred up public hatred without any factual basis,” he said. “No athlete who has represented their country at the Olympic Games should be treated in this way and we are supporting Dr Gunn and Anna Meares at this time.”
Carroll also said that Gunn was selected through a transparent and independent qualification event and nomination process.
“The AOC is particularly offended by the affront to our chef de mission, Anna Meares,” he added. “[She] played no role in the qualification events nor the nomination of athletes to the AOC selection committee, of which the chef and I are members.”
English