Australian Olympian Rachel Gunn has apologised for the “backlash” the Australian breakdancing community experienced after her controversial performance in Paris made headlines around the world.
Gunn, who competes as Ray Gunn, was eliminated from the B-girl competition with a score of zero, drawing both ridicule and praise from social media users for her unconventional style.
In her first interview since competing in the Olympics, amid questions about her qualifications and performance, Gunn was asked if she really thought she was Australia’s best female breakdancer.
“I think my record speaks for itself,” she told Network 10’s The Project.
“It really saddens me to hear these criticisms and I’m so sorry for the backlash the community has experienced, but I have no control over how people react,” she continued, referring to the torrent of criticism her routine has garnered online.
The 36-year-old university lecturer has competed in three Olympic Games and lost all three, but his green tracksuit and quirky performances, which included sprinkler moves and kangaroo-inspired leaps, spawned a plethora of memes.
In the aftermath of her performance, Gunn faced accusations of manipulating the selection process, including allegations that she set up her own governing body and that her husband served as one of her qualifying judges.
These claims have since been debunked as false by several organisations, including the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) and the World DanceSport Federation (WDSF).
“The conspiracy theories were really bad,” Gunn told Network 10.
“I was the top ranked B-girl in Australia in 2020, 2022 and 2023. I’ve been invited to represent Australia at the World Championships multiple times. So I have a record, but you never know what’s going to happen in a fight,” she added.
Ms Gunn, who has a background in jazz, tap and ballroom dancing, had publicly defended her performance as “artistic and creative”.
“There was no way I could beat them with the dynamic movements and power moves that they do best, so I wanted to do something different,” she said last month.
The chief judge overseeing the B-Girl competition is also rooting for Gunn, as are her team members and the entire Olympic breakdancing community.
But the aftermath has left Australian sport divided and disappointed.
“It’s an insult to the Australian scene and I think that’s why so many of us are hurt,” Australian hip-hop pioneer Spice previously told the BBC.
Breaking, a hip-hop-inspired dance that originated in New York’s boroughs in the 1970s, was introduced to this year’s Olympics in an effort to draw a younger audience to the games.
However, some critics argue that the genre should not have been included, as its organic nature does not necessarily lend itself to organized competition.
After her performance in Paris, Gunn posted a video to Instagram in which she directly appealed to the media to stop “harassing” her family and friends.
In an interview with Network 10, she said it was “really wild” to be hounded by reporters in the aftermath of the incident.
“I really panicked. Dance was my medicine, but it became a source of stress for me,” she said.
Gunn admitted she was “not ready yet” to reflect on her performance, but said she was moved by the support she received from her fellow Olympians and members of the public at the closing ceremony.
“It really warmed my heart,” she said. “I’d rather focus on the good that came from it and the joy I’ve brought to people.”