B-Girl Raygun Responds to Criticism After Viral Olympic Performance, Receives AOC Support

Australian breakdancer Rachael Gunn, known as B-Girl Raygun, has addressed the criticism she faced for her performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics. In her Instagram post on Thursday, she expressed her appreciation for the support she received but also revealed the devastating impact of the hate she encountered. Despite the backlash, Gunn emphasized her dedication and hard work in preparing for the Olympics.

Academics and performance

Gunn, a PhD holder in cultural studies, faced criticism for her performance, losing all her battles with a score of 54-0. She was particularly mocked for her "kangaroo dance," which even garnered attention on "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon." In response to her critics, Gunn pointed out the lack of a points-based scoring system in breaking and directed them to the comparison percentages of the judges' evaluation on Olympics.com.

Gunn also confronted the skepticism regarding her selection to represent Australia. In defense of Gunn, the Australian Olympics Committee condemned an anonymous petition demanding an apology from her and Australia's chef de mission, Anna Meares, for allegedly unethical conduct in her selection. The committee emphasized that Gunn's selection was through a transparent and independent qualification and nomination process.

The AOC criticized the anonymous petition as a form of bullying, harassment, and defamation. As of Thursday afternoon, the petition was no longer active. Furthermore, the committee rebutted accusations against Gunn's husband, fellow breaker Samuel Free, clarifying that he had no involvement as a judge in the qualifying event.

Support and transparency

The AOC highlighted that Gunn held no position within the bodies overseeing competitive breaking in Australia, AUSBreaking or DanceSport Australia. Notably, breaking made its Olympic debut in Paris but did not secure a place in the roster of sports for the 2028 Games in Los Angeles.