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Viral Australian breakdancer Rachael Gunn, AKA Raygun, has finally responded to the ridicule and negativity that she has received since the Olympics.
“Hi everyone, Raygun here. I just want to start by thanking all the people who have supported me, I really appreciate the positivity and I’m glad I was able to bring some joy into your lives, that’s what I hoped,” she said in a video posted to Instagram on Thursday.
“I didn’t realize that that would also open the door to so much hate, which has frankly been pretty devastating. While 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. I’m honored to have been a part of the Australian Olympic team and to be part of breaking’s Olympic debut.”
Rachael Gunn also addressed an online petition alleging that Gunn manipulated the Olympics qualifying process to her own benefit.
“I’d like to ask everyone to please refer to the recent statement made by the AOC, as well as the posts on the Ausbreaking Instagram page, as well as the WDSF Breaking for Gold page,” said Gunn.
Matt Carroll, the chief executive of the Australian Olympic Committee, condemned the petition and debunked a number of claims in a statement he made Thursday morning.
“It is disgraceful that these falsehoods concocted by an anonymous person can be published in this way. It amounts to bullying and harassment and is defamatory,” Carroll said in the statement. “We are demanding that it be removed from the site immediately. No athlete who has represented their country at the Olympic Games should be treated in this way.”
“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,” Raygun requested. “Everyone has been through a lot as a result of this, so I ask you to please respect their privacy.”
As for why she mysteriously didn’t return to Australia with her Olympics teammates this week, Gunn claimed she was staying in Europe for some “pre-planned downtime.”
“I’ll be happy to answer more questions on my return to Australia,” she promised.