Australia’s viral Olympic breakdancer Rachael “Raygun” Gunn has lastly made a public assertion about her internationally maligned efficiency on the Paris video games, and it appears she’s standing by her efforts. The Video games could also be over, however the drama continues.
In a video posted to Instagram on Thursday, Raygun acknowledged that she was unprepared for the backlash she’d obtained, and that she’d hoped to “bring some joy into [people’s] lives.”
“I didn’t realise that that would also open the door to so much hate, which has frankly been pretty devastating,” Raygun stated. “While I went out there and I had fun, I did take it very seriously. I worked my butt off preparing for the Olympics, and 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 Olympic debut.”
Raygun additionally addressed the “allegations and misinformation floating around.” The Australian Olympian’s breakdancing show sparked quite a few theories concerning precisely how she managed to get on the Olympic staff within the first place, with individuals on social media speculating that she gained her place by lower than sincere means.
In response, Raygun requested individuals to check with statements made by the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC), AUSBreaking, and the World DanceSport Federation (WDSF). She additionally talked about that there aren’t any factors in breaking, making an obvious effort to debunk misinformation concerning her efficiency.
“If you happen to wanna see how the judges thought I in comparison with my opponents, you’ll be able to really see the comparability percentages throughout the 5 standards on Olympics.com,” stated Raygun.
Raygun doing a transfer remnicent of a kangaroo whereas competing on the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Credit score: Ezra Shaw / Getty Photographs
Whereas it’s true that the Olympic breaking judges did not award “points” to dancers, additional clarification does not do Raygun many favours. Olympic breakers competed in one-on-one battles consisting of as much as three rounds, with every dancer getting one minute to carry out per spherical. A panel of 9 judges would rating every spherical based mostly on the dancers’ method, vocabulary, execution, musicality, and originality, then every vote for a winner.
Nevertheless, Raygun did not simply lose three rounds. Her notorious 0-3 rating is the results of her dropping all six rounds in all three battles she danced in, failing to return out on high in opposition to the US’ Logistx, France’s Syssy, and Lithuania’s Nicka. None of her battles went to a few rounds.
The 2024 Olympic gold medal for ladies’s breaking ultimately went to Japan’s Ami Yuasa, with Lithuania’s Dominika Banevič taking silver and China’s Liu Qingyi successful bronze.
Raygun ended her video by requesting that the media go away her, her household and buddies, and the breakdancing group alone. She acknowledged she can be completely happy to reply extra questions as soon as she returns to Australia from a pre-planned break in Europe.
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The Australian Olympic Committee voices assist for Raygun
Raygun competing within the finals of the Oceania Breaking Championship in Sydney on Oct. 28, 2023.
Credit score: Mark Kolbe / Getty Photographs
In line with the AOC assertion Raygun referred to, the WDSF decided the system and chosen the judges for the 2023 Oceania Breaking Championship, which was Australia’s Olympic qualifying occasion. The competitors was then performed by AUSBreaking underneath WDSF and DanceSport Australia’s authorisation, with Raygun successful the occasion and thus DanceSport Australia’s nomination to the nation’s Olympic staff.
“Dr Rachael Gunn holds no position with AUSBreaking or DanceSport Australia in any capacity,” wrote the AOC. “She is simply an athlete who competed in the qualifying event which she won. There were no appeals from any athlete. Dr Gunn has no responsibility for any funding decisions in her sport. [Raygun’s husband] Mr Samuel Free is a coach who holds no position with AUSBreaking or DanceSport Australia in any capacity and was not a judge at the qualifying event.”
As such, the AOC condemned an nameless Change.org petition which had been calling for “immediate accountability and transparency” concerning Raygun’s alleged involvement within the choice course of for the Paris Olympics. Created over the weekend, the petition obtained over 38,000 signatures earlier than Change.org took it down, the platform reportedly stating that it had been flagged for misinformation.
AOC’s stance was backed up by AUSBreaking, which expressed its assist for Raygun over a number of Instagram posts. Decrying the “global online harassment” Raygun has obtained, AUSBreaking refuted the hearsay that both she or Free had been concerned within the Olympic choice course of.
“Bgirl Raygun has been accused of setting up her own governing body for Breaking and then using her position to manipulate the selection process to her own advantage,” wrote AUSBreaking. “While AUSBreaking has had many interactions and points of contact with Raygun, at no point was she the founder, an executive, committee member or in any position of leadership. She was not involved in any decision-making over events, funding, strategy, judge selection or athlete selection.”
The WDSF hasn’t made any latest statements straight addressing Raygun’s scenario. Nevertheless, the organisation did seem to allude to it in an Instagram publish uploaded over the weekend, stating that the WDSF “stands firmly against any form of harassment or abuse, which includes cyberbullying.”
“Our athletes deserve respect and support as they pursue their dreams,” wrote WDSF. “Let’s treat every athlete with respect, and create a supportive environment for everyone.”
Australian Olympic breakdancer Raygun continues to disappoint viewers
Raygun competing in opposition to Syssy of Workforce France through the Paris Olympics.
Credit score: Ezra Shaw / Getty Photographs
Feedback on Raygun’s Instagram Reel have been overwhelmingly unsympathetic. Many view Raygun as making an attempt to color herself as a sufferer, relatively than proudly owning as much as her lacklustre efficiency.
“You trained for that performance?” wrote mrealtor.
“Honest criticism is not hate,” stated attytjj. “Attacking honest feedback as hate is gaslighting and an attempt to demean those who give honest feedback and criticism with name calling and accusations.”
Some commenters additionally took be aware of Raygun’s educational background. Raygun works as a lecturer at Australia’s Macquarie College and has a PHD in breakdancing and dance tradition. To many, these intellectually-focused {qualifications} are anathema to the breakdancing subculture and spirit, which originated from disenfranchised Black and Puerto Rican within the Bronx through the ’70s.
“What bothers me is that there was probably a young person, perhaps from a lower socio economic background who could not only dance better but whose life would have been transformed by the opportunity to compete at the Olympics,” divine_awen posted. “Instead of taking the opportunity herself she could have supported them to do so.”
“Playing the victim card…… just apologize on how bad you were and prob gain more respect..” stated nekovujevic.
Breaking won’t be returning for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, the organisers having opted to drop it lengthy earlier than Raygun got here to worldwide consideration. Maybe it is for one of the best.
