Australia’s Olympic team chief Anna Meares has hit out at criticism of Rachael ‘Raygun’ Gunn after the breakdancer’s bizarre performance in Paris was seized on by an enthralled public.
Gunn, a 36-year-old Australian university lecturer, lost all three of her round robin battles by a combined score of 54-0 on Friday.
Video of her performance – which included some kangaroo style hopping – was widely lampooned online and Meares suggested some of the attacks were due to misogyny.
“I love Rachael, and I think that what has occurred on social media with trolls and keyboard warriors, and taking those comments and giving them air time, has been really disappointing,” Meares told reporters.
Raygun competes during the breaking round robin at La Concorde in Paris. (Photo by Harry Langer/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)
“Raygun is an absolutely loved member of this Olympic team. She has represented the Olympic team, the Olympic spirit with great enthusiasm.
“And I absolutely love her courage. I love her character, and I feel very disappointed for her, that she has come under the attack that she has.”
Meares said that criticism of Gunn’s performance and appearance was consistent with the sort of misogynistic abuse that female athletes had suffered over the last century as they fought for their space in the sporting world.
“In 2008, she was locked in a room crying being involved in a male dominated sport as the only woman, and it took great courage for her to continue on and fight for her opportunity to participate in a sport that she loved,” the former Olympic champion cyclist said.
“That got her to winning the Olympic qualifying event to be here in Paris, she is the best breakdancer female that we have for Australia.
“Now you look at the history of what we have had as women athletes, has faced in terms of criticism, belittlement, judgment, and simple comments like they shouldn’t be there.
“100 years ago, leading into Paris 1924 Australia sent a team of 37 athletes. None were women. 100 years later, we have 256 women representing here.”
Meares added: “For someone to win in sport you need someone to not win in sport and the fact is that yes, Rachael didn’t get a point yesterday, but she was there doing her best.
“It takes a lot of courage to walk out into any sporting environment and try to have a go … How can we continue to encourage our kids to do that when we’re prepared to slam our athletes who do it on a global stage?
“I am very grateful for Rachael because I think what she has done for breakdancers and female breakdancers in future generations will not be appreciated for decades to come.”
While Raygun was initially mocked online the sentiment has started to turn with Aussies showing their support. Expect to see Gunn on your TV screens and radio shows over the coming months.
Former Socceroo Craig Foster said Raygun should be in line for national honours.
“Dr Raygun is an Aussie legend,” he wrote on X
“We dance to our own beat. And bring marsupial energy to every contest. She’s a national treasure. Give her an AO.”
Gunn is Australia’s top-ranking female breaker and a creative arts researcher specialising in the cultural politics of breakdancing at Sydney’s Macquarie University.
She secured her place in the Games as Australia’s B-Girl delegate after winning last year’s Oceania Breaking Championships.
“I was always going to be the underdog going in,” she told Channel 9 after her performance.
“I was never going to beat these B-girls at what they do, so I did what I do best and I went out and I showed myself, my creativity, my style, a little bit of Australian character so that I could try and make my mark on this world stage.”
Newshttps://www.theroar.com.au/2024/08/11/locked-in-a-room-crying-aussie-chief-reveals-rayguns-tortured-path-to-paris-blames-misogyny-for-blowup/‘Locked in a room crying’: Aussie chief reveals Raygun’s tortured path to Paris – blames misogyny for blowup
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