customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

moreOnThisArticles

urlAlias

commentCount

sponsorType

authorLocations

authors

paywallTypes

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

socialHeadline

headline

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

publishedDate

additionalInfoBoxes

images

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

createdDate

sponsor

factSheets

series

knowledgeQuestion

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

copyrighted

customTimezone

liveContents

Reuters

Associated Press

Australian breakdancer Rachael Gunn says the backlash she has received since she competed at the Paris Olympics has been devastating, and pleaded for privacy for her family and friends.
“I really appreciate the positivity, and I’m glad I was able to bring some joy into your lives. That’s what I hoped,” Gunn said in a video from a Brussels street posted on her Instagram account on Thursday.
“I did not realise that that would also open the door to so much hate – which has, frankly, been pretty devastating.”












View this post on Instagram























A post shared by Rachael Gunn (@raygun_aus)



Gunn, a 36-year-old Sydney university lecturer who competes as B-Girl Raygun, was lambasted online and in mainstream media after she lost all three of her round-robin battles in Paris, where breaking made its Olympic debut.
Her kangaroo-mimicking moves and Australia-logoed tracksuit have been parodied worldwide, including by late-night US television host Jimmy Fallon.
“Well, 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,” Gunn said.
The Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) earlier on Thursday condemned an online petition calling for an investigation into Gunn’s selection for the Paris Olympics, saying it contained falsehoods aimed at inciting hatred against her.
AOC chief executive Matt Carroll said the petition had “stirred up public hatred without any factual basis”, adding that it was “vexatious, misleading and bullying”.
In a statement later on Thursday, Change.org said it had removed the petition – which had collected more than 54,000 signatures – after flagging it for misinformation.
“Change.org maintains strict guidelines against content that constitutes harassment, bullying, or spreading false information,” the statement said. “We take such matters seriously and remove any content that violates these standards to protect our users and uphold the integrity of our community.”
Carroll’s statement also said the 36-year-old Gunn had been “selected through a transparent and independent qualification event and nomination process”.
Unattributed social media comments also suggested Gunn and her husband, fellow breaker Samuel Free, had held positions within Australian breaking organisations.












View this post on Instagram























A post shared by Rachael Gunn (@raygun_aus)



“Rachael Gunn holds no position with AUSBreaking or DanceSport Australia in any capacity,” the AOC said on Thursday. “She is simply an athlete who competed in the qualifying event which she won.”
Gunn asked for privacy, saying: “I’d really like to ask the press to please stop harassing my family, my friends, the Australian breaking community and the broader street dance community. Everyone has been through a lot as a result of this, so I ask you to please respect their privacy.”
She said she would take a few weeks of previously planned holiday in Europe and would answer any more questions on her return to Australia.
Breaking at the Olympics might have been one-and-done in Paris. The sport is not on the competition list for Los Angeles in 2028, and also is unlikely to appear in 2032 at Brisbane, Australia.


Legacy of Paris Games will live on far beyond 2024

Hong Kong Sports Commissioner Sam Wong quits 1 year into job

IOC’s complicated election rules could block Sebastian Coe’s bid to become president

Australia hockey star nets 12-month ban after attempted cocaine purchase at Paris Olympics

Paris 2024 Olympic Games

Paris Olympics: petition about breakdancer Raygun removed, she tells of ‘devastating’ hate

Rachael Gunn’s routine at the Olympics, which included kangaroo-mimicking moves in an Australia-logoed tracksuit, has been parodied worldwide. Photo: TNS

Paris Olympics: Australian Olympic body slams criticism of controversial breaker ‘Raygun’

Controversial Australian breaking athlete Rachael Gunn, also known as Raygun, has not yet returned to her country after the Paris Olympics. Photo: Reuters

AOC boss Matt Carroll says the anonymous “falsehoods” amounts to bullying, and is defamatory. Photo: AFP

Can’t catch a break: Australian Olympic Committee condemns public call for apology from breakdancer Raygun

Raygun of Australia in action during the B-Girls’ round robin during the 2024 Paris Olympics in France on August 9. Photo: Reuters

Australia’s Raygun during the B-Girls’ round robin at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Photo: Reuters

Australia’s J Attack in action during the B Boys’ round robin at the Paris Olympics. Photo: Reuters

A post by former Malaysian professional cyclist and Olympian Josiah Ng on Rachael Gunn’s Instagram page said “the value of the Olympian brand has been severely diminished by this spectacle”. Photo: Instagram

Breaking community defends B-Girl Raygun, sport hopeful of return to Olympic programme

Australia’s Rachael Gunn, known as Raygun, competes in the breaking dance round robin at the Paris Olympics, where she scored zero points. Photo: AFP

Rachael Gunn (left) with the US’ Logan Edra, aka Logistx, during their battle in the round robin in Paris. Photo: TNS

Gold medal winner Ami Yuasa of Japan says she is sad the sport will not be at Los Angeles 2028. Photo: Xinhua

World DanceSport federation Shawn Tay watches the action flanked by US rapper Snoop Dogg (left) and US basketball player Bam Adebayo. Photo: AFP

Who is Rachael Gunn? Paris Olympics’ Australian breakdancer who became internet meme

Australia’s Rachael Gunn, known as B-Girl Raygun, was the talk of social media after her unique breakdancing at the Paris Olympics. Photo: AP

Rachael Gunn, known as B-Girl Raygun, also has a PHD which focused on breaking in her native Australia. Photo: AFP

Sport

Paris Olympics 2024

The Australian says ‘I gave my all’ for the Olympics but did not realise it would ‘open the door to so much hate’ and asks for privacy


The Australian says ‘I gave my all’ for the Olympics but did not realise it would ‘open the door to so much hate’ and asks for privacy.


Breakdancing