Olympic breakdancer Raygun defended by Australian boss after viral performance, memes | News, scores, highlights, stats and rumors

Anna Meares, Australia’s chef de mission for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris and a former Olympic cyclist, spoke out on Friday in support of Australian breakdancer Raygun after her performances during breakdancing’s Olympic debut went viral.

Raygun, whose real name is Rachael Gunn, represented Australia at the break on Friday and was eliminated in all three of her Group B matches by Lithuania’s Dominika Banevič, France’s Sya Dembélé and the United States’ Logan Edra.

Gunn was the talk of the town on social media, as many people used clips of her performances to make jokes and create memes about her unconventional moves.

According to ESPN, Meares responded to those ridiculing Raygun in a mean-spirited manner on Saturday:

“I love Rachael, and I think what’s happened on social media with trolls and keyboard warriors, and taking those comments and giving them airtime, has been really disappointing. Raygun is an absolutely beloved member of this Olympic team. She’s represented the Olympic team, the Olympic spirit with such great enthusiasm. And I absolutely love her courage. I love her character, and I feel very disappointed for her, that she’s come under the attack that she has.”

Gunn, 36, is a university lecturer with a doctorate in cultural studies in her native Australia. Her participation in the Olympic program has allowed her to realize her dream.

After being eliminated from the event with three straight losses, Gunn was pragmatic about the situation, telling reporters, “I would never beat these girls at what they do best, which is their power moves. What I bring is creativity.”

Gunn later suggested that she wasn’t too concerned about the results and that she simply enjoyed expressing herself on the world stage, saying, “All of my moves are original. Creativity is really important to me. I go out there and I show my artistry. Sometimes it appeals to the judges, and sometimes it doesn’t. I do my thing and it represents art. That’s what it’s all about.”

Meares stressed that Raygun had overcome much discrimination over the years to reach the top in a male-dominated sport, and noted that she had earned her place at the Olympics by winning qualifying events.

Japan’s Ami Yuasa won gold in her debut in the women’s Olympic breaking event, while Banevič and China’s Liu Qingyi won silver.

Raygun didn’t make it to the podium, but she did provide a talking point and seems to be looking back positively on her Olympic experience in Paris.