Australian Breaker Rachael Gunn Faces Backlash Over Olympic Performance
Australian breaker Rachael Gunn opened up about the devastating backlash she faced following her controversial Olympic performance. In a video posted on social media, Gunn expressed her surprise at the level of negative attention she received after judges awarded her zero points in her Olympic debut.
Despite the criticism, Gunn emphasized that she took the competition seriously, worked hard, and gave her best effort during the Olympics. The 36-year-old b-girl known as Raygun from Sydney was a standout performer in the debut of breaking at the Paris Games, but her unique routine, including a “kangaroo dance,” failed to impress the judges.
The performance drew widespread mockery, with Gunn becoming the subject of online petitions and parody videos. The Australian Olympic Committee came to her defense, calling out the anonymous petition as “vexatious, misleading, and bullying.”
Gunn also pleaded with the press to respect her privacy and that of her family and friends, who have been impacted by the backlash. Despite the negative attention, she received strong support from the Australian Olympic team leader and the AOC.
The controversy surrounding Gunn’s Olympic qualification processes and her performance led to the removal of an online petition with over 40,000 signatures. The AOC demanded its withdrawal and emphasized that Gunn was selected for the Australian Olympic team through a transparent and independent process.
Breaking at the Olympics might not return in the future, with the sport unlikely to be featured in the 2028 Los Angeles Games or the 2032 Brisbane Games. The AOC defended the integrity of the Olympic qualification system and Gunn’s participation in the event.
Gunn’s representation in Australian breaking organizations was also clarified, with the AOC stating that she holds no position within AUSBreaking or DanceSport Australia. She is simply an athlete who competed and won in the qualifying event.
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