Paris breaking head judge MGbility and Sergey Nifontov of the World DanceSport Federation came out in support of Raygun following the backlash
Australian breakdancer Rachael Gunn, known as B-girl Raygun, described the backlash she faced following her Olympic performance as “devastating.” Gunn, who competed in breaking’s debut at the Paris Games last week, has been at the center of a social media uproar. A petition demanding an apology from Gunn, 36, and Australia’s Olympic chef de mission, Anna Meares, garnered over 54,000 signatures before it was taken down.
In an Instagram video, Gunn expressed her shock at the intense reaction, stating she didn’t anticipate that her appearance would “open the door to so much hate.” On Thursday, Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) chief executive Matt Carroll criticized the petition, calling it “vexatious, misleading, and bullying” and accused it of “stirring up public hatred without any factual basis.”
The petition claimed that Gunn and two-time Olympic champion track cyclist Meares should apologize for “attempting to gaslight the public and undermining the efforts of genuine athletes.” Change.org removed the petition after it was flagged for misinformation.
Gunn thanked her supporters, expressing gratitude for the positivity she received. She said, “I’m glad I was able to bring some joy into your lives – that’s what I hoped for.” Gunn emphasized that she took her Olympic preparation seriously, worked hard, and gave her all in the competition. She also expressed her pride in being part of the Australian Olympic team and breaking’s Olympic debut.
Although she lost all three of her round-robin battles, Gunn shared that “there are actually no points in breaking.” She directed those interested in the judging process to Olympics.com, where they could see the comparison percentages across the five criteria used to score her performance.
Gunn also addressed the misinformation circulating about her selection, urging critics to refer to Carroll’s statement, which clarified that she was “selected through a transparent and independent qualification event and nomination process.”
Lastly, Gunn asked the press to stop harassing her family, friends, and the broader breaking and street dance communities, highlighting the toll the situation had taken on them and requesting respect for their privacy.
Paris 2024: Officials support Australian breaker Raygun
