AusBreaking issues statement on Rachael Gunn’s Olympic selection after ‘disrespectful’ claim

The Australian sporting body that sent Rachael Gunn to the Olympics has issued its first statement on the 36-year-old’s controversial appearance, defending the qualifying process and her place on the team.

‘Raygun’ has been backed by the very top of the world’s breaking community since her debut in Paris became a viral sensation.

The 36-year-old university professor lost all three of her battles by a combined score of 54-0, prompting a hostile response.

Gunn spoke after the event but has otherwise kept a low profile in the media, though she was toasted by her Australian Olympic teammates before the closing ceremony in Paris.

Australia’s chef de mission Anna Meares was the first to mount a strong defence before, in a rare move, the head judge of the Olympic breaking competition also backed Gunn.

AusBreaking has now spoken out to celebrate all participants and applaud the medallists, calling for ‘peace, love and unity’.

“On the global stage we witnessed the elite physical stamina, fluidity, precision and creativity that is required to be a breaker at the highest level,” it said on Tuesday.

“Let us focus and celebrate breaking as an Olympic sport and uphold the values of the Australian and global breaking community of peace, love and unity.”

A separate statement followed focusing on Australia’s qualification process and Gunn, as well as the country’s 16-year-old male qualifier Jeff ‘J Attack’ Dunne.

Dunne also exited the competition in the first round but won two points across his three bouts, one of which came against the eventual gold medallist.

“The selection process for Australia’s breaking team heading to Paris was conducted over two days, and open to all interested participants in the Oceanic region,” AusBreaking said.

“Adhering to World DanceSport Federation (WDSF) regulations, which align with International Olympic Committee (IOC) standards, the process aimed to ensure a fair and transparent outcome.

“A panel of nine international adjudicators, a head judge and a chairperson who oversaw the competition, using the same judging system at the Paris Games and trained to uphold the highest standards of impartiality.

“These judges are all highly respected in their respective communities and in the international breaking scene.

“Ultimately, Rachael Gunn and Jeff Dunne emerged as the top performers in exactly the same process, securing their spots to represent Australia in Paris. Their selection was based solely on their performance in their battles on that day.

“In the lead-up to Paris, Raygun used her platform as the Australian Breaking representative to consistently advocate in the media for breaking’s history, artistic and athletic values, and its cultural origins.

“We condemn the global online harassment and bullying of Raygun. The pressure to perform on the Olympic stage is immense, especially against the opponents in her particular group. We stand in solidarity with Raygun.”

The statements followed Professor Megan Davis — Pro Vice-Chancellor Society at University of NSW and an Australian Rugby League commissioner — speaking out against Gunn on social media.

The human rights lawyer took aim at claims Gunn used the Olympics as a tool for her cultural studies.

“Getting zero points on purpose in three rounds for an academic study subsidised by the taxpayer both at a university and Olympic level isn’t funny and isn’t ‘having a go’,” Davies wrote.

“It is disrespectful to other competitors. I’m glad most ­Aussies aren’t buying the Kool-Aid.

“This is a totally mainstream media-driven narrative (because) they see themselves in her.

“Affluent, comfortable life, educated, not a care in the world, nothing matters really, what fun, what a fun Aussie gal, chortle chortle.”

Gunn will not be in the mix to return to the Olympics at Los Angeles 2028 after breaking was scrapped from the program months before it even debuted in Paris.

But she has received the support of the World DanceSport Federation as it seeks to capitalise on its brief stay on the world’s biggest stage.

WDSF general secretary Sergey Nifontov was in direct contact with Gunn and Australian Olympic officials.

“We offered (the) support of our safe-guarding officer,” he said.

“We are aware about what has happened, especially on social media, and definitely we should put the safety of the athlete, in this case, mental safety in first place.

“She has us as a federation supporting her.”

Olympic breaking’s head judge Martin Gilian praised Gunn for challenging the status quo.

“Breaking is all about originality and bringing something new to the table and representing your country or region,” Gilian, known as MGbility, said.

“This is exactly what Raygun was doing. She got inspired by her surroundings, which in this case, for example, was a kangaroo.”

The breaking and hip-hop communities “definitely stand behind her”, he added.

“We have five criteria in the competitive judging system and just her level was maybe not as high as the other competitors,” Gilian said.

“But again, that doesn’t mean that she did really bad. She did her best. She won the Oceania qualifier. Unfortunately for her, the other b-girls were better.”

- with AAP