Rachael Gunn Speaks Out on Olympic Breakdance Controversy
Australian break-dancer Rachael Gunn expressed surprise at the backlash she received following her performance at the Paris Olympics.
Australian Olympic break-dancer Rachael Gunn, also known as Raygun, has addressed the criticism she faced after her performance in Paris.
Gunn’s playful routine, which included dancing like a kangaroo, sparked negative feedback and online memes.
In a social media video, Gunn thanked her supporters but acknowledged the unexpected hate she received, admitting that she didn’t anticipate such a negative reaction.
Describing the public response as “devastating,” the 36-year-old dancer stated, “I went out there, had fun, and worked hard to prepare for the Olympics.”
Gunn expressed her honor to be a part of the Australian Olympic Team and to participate in breaking’s Olympic debut.
She commended the achievements of other athletes as “phenomenal.”
Addressing online rumors about her performance and involvement in the Olympics, Gunn directed people to statements from the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC), Ausbreaking, and the World Dance Sport Federation.
Gunn shared a “fun fact” that there are no points in breaking and that result percentages could be viewed online.
The university lecturer mentioned her pre-planned downtime in Europe and requested the media to refrain from harassing her family, friends, or the Australian breaking and street dance communities.
She asked for privacy to be respected due to the impact on everyone involved, promising to address further questions upon her return to Australia.
On August 15, the AOC released a statement refuting rumors related to an online petition against Gunn’s performance.
The committee clarified that Gunn was not involved in her own selection process, and the judges in the qualifier leading to her Olympic performance were impartial and flown in from overseas for fairness.
Ausbreaking and the World Dance Sport Federation also supported the committee’s comments.
