The Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) and b-girl Raygun fired again on the criticism levied on the group and the breaker over her efficiency on the Paris Olympics.
The efficiency from Raygun, whose actual title is Rachael Gunn, sparked widespread mocking as she obtained zero factors throughout three bouts for her “kangaroo dance” and different maneuvers she did on the ground. The mocking become theories concerning the AOC’s resolution to ship her to the Summer season Video games within the first place.
Greater than 40,000 folks signed a Change.org petition claiming Raygun “manipulated” the Olympic qualification course of. Different claims had been made concerning the validity of the Oceania qualifying occasion and hypothesis that she and fellow breaker Samuel Free had positions in Australian breaking organizations.
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Australia’s Rachael Gunn, referred to as B-Lady Raygun, competes in the course of the Spherical Robin Battle on the breaking competitors at La Concorde City Park on the 2024 Summer season Olympics on Friday, Aug. 9, 2024 in Paris. (AP Picture/Frank Franklin)
Whereas Raygun obtained help from Australian workforce chef de mission Anna Meares, the AOC launched a press release on Thursday pushing again on the criticism.
AOC Chief Govt Officer Matt Carroll stated the group wrote to the petition firm demanding that it’s withdrawn over “quite a few falsehoods designed to engender hatred in opposition to an athlete who was chosen within the Australian Olympic workforce via a clear and unbiased qualification occasion and nomination course of.”
“It’s disgraceful that these falsehoods concocted by an nameless individual may be printed on this manner,” Carroll stated. “It quantities to bullying and harassment and is defamatory. We’re demanding that it’s faraway from the location instantly. No athlete who has represented their nation on the Olympic Video games needs to be handled on this manner. …”
The AOC stated the qualifying occasion in query was carried out below the Olympic qualification system decided by the worldwide governing physique, the World DanceSport Fderation (WDSF), and permitted by the Worldwide Olympic Committee.
Raygun of Staff Australia competes within the girls’s round-robin – group B on day 14 of the Paris Olympic Video games. (Ezra Shaw/Getty Photographs)
The WDSF stated the judging panel for the occasion consisted of 9 unbiased worldwide judges, the AOC added.
“Rachael Gunn holds no place with AUSBreaking or DanceSport Australia in any capability,” the AOC stated. “She is just an athlete who competed within the qualifying occasion which she received.”
Raygun posted a video on her Instagram, thanking these for his or her help and maintained she took her efficiency severely.
“I actually recognize the positivity, and I’m glad I used to be capable of convey some pleasure into your lives – that’s what I hoped,” she stated. “I didn’t notice that might additionally open the door to a lot hate, which has frankly been fairly devastating.
“Whereas I went on the market and had enjoyable, I did take it very severely. I labored my butt off getting ready for the Olympics and I gave my all, really. I’m honored to be part of the Australian Olympic workforce and to be a part of breaking’s Olympic debut. What the opposite athletes have achieved have simply been phenomenal.”
Raygun referred to the AOC’s assertion and requested the media to cease “harassing” these near her.
“In regard to the allegations and misinformation floating round, I’d wish to ask everybody to please consult with the latest assertion made by the AOC in addition to the posts on the Oz Breaking Instagram web page in addition to the (World DanceSport Federation) Breaking for Gold web page,” she stated.
Australia’s Rachael Gunn, referred to as Raygun, competes within the Ladies’s Breaking dance Spherical robin of the Paris 2024 Olympic Video games at La Concorde in Paris on Aug. 9, 2024. (ODD ANDERSEN/AFP through Getty Photographs)
“I’d actually wish to ask the press to cease harassing my household, my mates, the Australian breaking group and the broader strict dance group. Everybody has been via loads on account of this. So, I ask you to please respect their privateness.”
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She added that she will probably be taking a trip in Europe earlier than returning to Australia.
The Related Press contributed to this report.
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