Rachael Gunn Calls Olympic Criticism "Devastating" Amid Petition

Rachael Gunn, the Australian breakdancer known as B-girl Raygun has described the backlash to her performance at the Paris Olympics as “devastating.” Since breakdancing’s debut at the Games, Gunn, 36, has faced significant criticism, leading to a petition demanding apologies from both her and Australia’s Olympic chef de mission, Anna Meares. The petition, which has garnered over 54,000 signatures, accuses Gunn and Meares of undermining legitimate athletes and “gaslighting” the public.

In an Instagram video, Gunn expressed her surprise at the level of hostility, stating she did not anticipate such a reaction. She acknowledged the negativity and addressed the petition which Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) CEO Matt Carroll criticized as “vexatious, misleading and bullying.” Carroll emphasized that the petition stirred unwarranted public animosity and lacked factual basis.

Gunn, a university lecturer from Sydney, explained that despite losing all three of her round-robin battles with a combined score of 54-0, there are no actual points in breaking, only comparative scores based on five criteria available on Olympics.com. She defended her performance, affirming that she took the competition seriously and worked hard in preparation. Gunn thanked her supporters and expressed honor at being part of breaking’s Olympic debut.

She also urged critics to refer to Carroll’s statement about the transparent and independent process used to select her. Additionally, Rachael Gunn asked the media to cease harassing her family, friends and the broader street dance community, stressing the need for privacy and respect amid the ongoing controversy.