Raygun speaks out as Australian Olympic Committee rubbishes claims about breakdancer and husband
The Australian athlete has broken her silence amid ugly backlash to her performance at the Olympics.
A 'devastated' Raygun has broken her silence on the backlash she's received for her breakdancing at the Olympics, while the Australian team has issued a statement condemning some of the false claims circulating around the athlete and her husband. Rachael Gunn has been at the centre of global ridicule after failing to score a point in any of her three breakdancing battles at the Olympics.
Her display has drawn the attention of the likes of Adele, Snoop Dogg and Jimmy Fallon - and the overall theme is one of mockery towards the Australian. Fellow breakdancers have spoken out to complain about how the sport has been painted in a bad light, and questions have emerged about how Raygun qualified for the Olympics as the best B-girl in the country.
On Thursday night, Raygun spoke out and revealed the heavy toll the global attention has taken on her. In her first public statement since the Games, Raygun called for an end to the harassment of "family, my friends, the Australian breaking community, and the broader street dance community."
She said in a video posted to Instagram: “I just want to start by thanking all the people who supported me. I really appreciate all the positivity and I’m glad I was able to bring some joy to your life. I didn’t also think that would open the door to so much hate which has frankly been devastating.
“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 am honoured to have been a part of the Australian Olympic team and to be part of breaking's Olympic debut.” She added: "Everyone has been through a lot as a result of this so I ask you to please respect their privacy."
Australian Olympic Committee slams claims about Raygun and husband
Raygun also asked the public to read the statement sent out by the Australian Olympic Committee on Thursday night addressing some of the misleading rumours that have been doing the rounds. Among them are false claims that Raygun was part of the organisation that ran the qualification process, that her husband Samuel Free was part of the judging and selection panel, and that he was a coach for the Australian team.
All of these claims are false, but were part of an online petition that garnered 40,000 signatures calling for action to be taken against Raygun and Australian Chef de Mission Anna Meares. The AOC slammed the petition attacking Raygun as "vexatious, misleading and bullying".
"It is disgraceful that these falsehoods concocted by an anonymous person can be published in this way," AOC boss Matt Carroll said in a statement released on Thursday. "It amounts to bullying and harassment and is defamatory. We are demanding that it be removed from the site immediately.
"The petition has stirred up public hatred without any factual basis. It's appalling. 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. It's important that the community understands the facts and that people do not form opinions based on malicious untruths and misinformation."
Raygun said she would remain in Europe for a few weeks and would "be happy to answer more questions on my return to Australia." The 36-year-old lost all three of her round-robin battles by a combined score of 54-0, prompting a hostile response around the world.
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AOC clarifies qualification process for Olympics breakdancing
The AOC clarified in their statement that the qualifying event held in Sydney in October 2023 was conducted by the sport's international governing body World DanceSport Federation, and was approved by the International Olympic Committee. The judging panel was selected by the WDSF and consisted of nine independent international judges - none of which were Raygun's husband.
Free is Raygun's personal coach, but holds no position with breakdancing's national governing body AUSBreaking or DanceSport Australia. The AOC said Gunn was "legitimately nominated" by DanceSport Australia to the committee after winning the qualifying event and has no responsibility for any funding decisions in the sport.
The AOC also made it clear that Meares was not involved in the qualifying event or nomination of athletes, and the sport did not receive any federal government funding. DanceSport Australia also didn't receive funding from the AOC for breaking.
with AAP
