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 “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 mentioned. “Whereas I went on the market and I had enjoyable, I did take it very critically. I labored my butt off making ready for the Olympics, and I gave my all, actually. 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 concerning 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 via lower than trustworthy means.
In response, Raygun requested folks to seek advice from statements made by the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC), AUSBreaking, and the World DanceSport Federation (WDSF). She additionally talked about that there are not any factors in breaking, making an obvious effort to debunk misinformation concerning her efficiency.
“In the event you wanna see how the judges thought I in comparison with my opponents, you possibly can really see the comparability percentages throughout the 5 standards on Olympics.com,” mentioned Raygun.
Raygun doing a transfer remnicent of a kangaroo whereas competing on the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Credit score: Ezra Shaw / Getty Photos
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 based mostly on the dancers’ approach, 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 come back out on prime in opposition to america’ Logistx, France’s Syssy, and Lithuania’s Nicka. None of her battles went to a few rounds.
The 2024 Olympic gold medal for girls’s breaking ultimately 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 depart her, her household and pals, and the breakdancing group 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.
Mashable High Tales
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 Photos
In response to 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 carried out by AUSBreaking underneath 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 selections 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 choose on the qualifying occasion.”
As such, the AOC condemned an nameless Change.org petition which had been calling for “speedy 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 “world on-line 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 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, choose choice or athlete choice.”
The WDSF hasn’t made any current statements immediately addressing Raygun’s state of affairs. Nevertheless, the organisation did seem to allude to it in an Instagram publish uploaded over the weekend, stating that the WDSF “stands firmly in opposition to 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 in opposition to Syssy of Workforce France in the course of the Paris Olympics.
Credit score: Ezra Shaw / Getty Photos
Feedback on Raygun’s Instagram Reel have been overwhelmingly unsympathetic. Many view Raygun as trying to color herself as a sufferer, moderately than proudly owning as much as her lacklustre efficiency.
“You educated for that efficiency?” wrote mrealtor.
“Trustworthy criticism isn’t hate,” mentioned attytjj. “Attacking trustworthy suggestions as hate is gaslighting and an try to demean those that give trustworthy suggestions and criticism with title calling and accusations.”
Some commenters additionally took word 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 remodeled by the chance to compete on the Olympics,” divine_awen posted. “As a substitute of taking the chance herself she might have supported them to take action.”
“Enjoying the sufferer card…… simply apologize on how unhealthy you had been and prob acquire extra respect..” mentioned 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.
