Australian Olympic breakdancer Raygun calls viral response ‘pretty devastating’

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 acquired, and that she’d hoped to “convey some pleasure into [people’s] lives.”

“I did not realise that that will additionally open the door to a lot hate, which has frankly been fairly devastating,” Raygun stated. “Whereas I went on the market and I had enjoyable, I did take it very significantly. I labored my butt off getting ready for the Olympics, and I gave my all, really. I am honoured to have been part of the Australian Olympic crew and to be a part of breaking’s Olympic debut.”

Raygun additionally addressed the “allegations and misinformation floating round.” The Australian Olympian’s breakdancing show sparked quite a few theories relating to precisely how she managed to get on the Olympic crew within the first place, with folks on social media speculating that she gained her place by means of lower than sincere means.

In response, Raygun requested folks to consult 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 relating to her efficiency.

“In case you wanna see how the judges thought I in comparison with my opponents, you possibly can truly see the comparability percentages throughout the 5 standards on Olympics.com,” stated Raygun.

Whereas it’s true that the Olympic breaking judges did not award “factors” to dancers, additional clarification would 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 primarily based on the dancers’ method, vocabulary, execution, musicality, and originality, then every vote for a winner.

Nonetheless, Raygun did not simply lose three rounds. Her notorious 0-3 rating is the results of her shedding all six rounds in all three battles she danced in, failing to return out on prime towards the USA’ Logistx, France’s Syssy, and Lithuania’s Nicka. None of her battles went to 3 rounds. 

The 2024 Olympic gold medal for ladies’s breaking finally went to Japan’s Ami Yuasa, with Lithuania’s Dominika Banevič taking silver and China’s Liu Qingyi profitable bronze. 

Raygun ended her video by requesting that the media go away her, her household and associates, and the breakdancing neighborhood alone. She acknowledged she can be completely satisfied to reply extra questions as soon as she returns to Australia from a pre-planned break in Europe.

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 keeping 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 beneath WDSF and DanceSport Australia’s authorisation, with Raygun profitable the occasion and thus DanceSport Australia’s nomination to the nation’s Olympic crew.

“Dr Rachael Gunn holds no place with AUSBreaking or DanceSport Australia in any capability,” wrote the AOC. “She is just an athlete who competed within the qualifying occasion which she received. There have been no appeals from any athlete. Dr Gunn has no duty for any funding choices in her sport. [Raygun’s husband] Mr Samuel Free is a coach who holds no place with AUSBreaking or DanceSport Australia in any capability and was not a decide on the qualifying occasion.”

As such, the AOC condemned an nameless Change.org petition which had been calling for “speedy accountability and transparency” relating to Raygun’s alleged involvement within the choice course of for the Paris Olympics. Created over the weekend, the petition acquired 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 “international on-line harassment” Raygun has acquired, AUSBreaking refuted the hearsay that both she or Free had been concerned within the Olympic choice course of.

“Bgirl Raygun has been accused of establishing her personal governing physique for Breaking after which utilizing her place to govern the choice course of to her personal benefit,” wrote AUSBreaking. “Whereas AUSBreaking has had many interactions and factors of contact with Raygun, at no level was she the founder, an government, committee member or in any place of management. She was not concerned in any decision-making over occasions, funding, technique, decide choice or athlete choice.”

The WDSF hasn’t made any latest statements immediately addressing Raygun’s scenario. Nonetheless, the organisation did seem to allude to it in an Instagram put up uploaded over the weekend, stating that the WDSF “stands firmly towards any type of harassment or abuse, which incorporates cyberbullying.”

“Our athletes deserve respect and assist as they pursue their desires,” wrote WDSF. “Let’s deal with each athlete with respect, and create a supportive surroundings for everybody.”

Australian Olympic breakdancer Raygun continues to disappoint viewers 

Raygun competing towards Syssy of Group France in the course of the Paris Olympics.
Credit score: Ezra Shaw / Getty Photographs

Feedback on Raygun’s Instagram Reel have been overwhelmingly unsympathetic. Many view Raygun as trying to color herself as a sufferer, relatively than proudly owning as much as her lacklustre efficiency.

“You educated for that efficiency?” wrote mrealtor.

“Sincere criticism shouldn’t be hate,” stated attytjj. “Attacking sincere suggestions as hate is gaslighting and an try to demean those that give sincere suggestions and criticism with identify calling and accusations.”

Some commenters additionally took notice of Raygun’s tutorial 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 in the course of the ’70s.

“What bothers me is that there was most likely a teenager, maybe from a decrease socio financial background who couldn’t solely dance higher however whose life would have been reworked by the chance to compete on the Olympics,” divine_awen posted. “As an alternative of taking the chance herself she may have supported them to take action.”

“Taking part in the sufferer card…… simply apologize on how dangerous you had been and prob acquire extra respect..” stated nekovujevic.

Breaking is not going to 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 the most effective.