BRISBANE, Australia (AP) — Rachael Gunn, an Australian breaker, made headlines for her controversial performance at the Olympics, followed by a surprising encounter in Paris where she was chased by cameras.
The 37-year-old university lecturer from Sydney recently celebrated her birthday on Monday. During her Olympic routine, she surprised both experts and casual fans with her unique style, which even featured her imitating a kangaroo.
This was the first time breaking was included in the Olympics, and it may not return, as it is not currently on the schedule for the upcoming Los Angeles Games in 2028 or for the Brisbane Games in 2032.
Known as “Raygun,” Gunn faced harsh criticism on social media after her performance, leading some to question the Olympic qualifying process.
In an interview with The Project on Australia’s Channel 10, she shared her experience of being pursued by cameras in the streets of Paris and talked about how she coped with the public reaction to her performance.
“It was really wild,” she said of the experience, speaking out publicly for the first time since the event. “When people are chasing me, what should I do? It genuinely put me in a state of panic. I felt nervous about being in public for a while, which was quite stressful.”
Gunn expressed regret over the chaos surrounding her but stood by her performance, noting the support she received from her fellow athletes in the sport. “It’s disappointing to hear those criticisms,” she said. “I apologize for the backlash the community has faced, but I can’t control how others react. The level of anger and negativity was quite shocking.”
“Although I aimed to have fun, I took it seriously. I worked extremely hard in preparation for the Olympics and gave it my all. I believe my track record shows that.”
Previously, she had defended her qualification for the Olympics and reiterated her stance during the TV interview. “I won the Oceania championships, which was a direct qualifier,” Gunn explained. “There were nine judges from abroad. I knew my chances were slim from the moment I qualified for the Olympics.”
“Many didn’t understand breaking and were just angry about how I performed,” she added. “The conspiracy theories were terrible and very disheartening. People were attacking our reputation and integrity without any factual basis.”
One of the most critical responses came from a sketch on comedian Jimmy Fallon’s late-night show. “I’m still not in a place to watch it,” she admitted.
Reflecting on the month since the Olympics, Gunn shared that she is working through her feelings with the help of therapy. “I definitely have had my ups and downs, with both good and bad days,” she said. “It’s been heartening to see the positive feedback about my performance. I never imagined connecting with so many people positively… but it has been challenging at times. Thankfully, I received mental health support pretty quickly.”
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AP Paris Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-games
