Raygun: Video of breakdancer Molly Chapman, who lost to Rachael Gunn in Olympic qualifier, goes viral
Video of an Australian breakdancer who lost to Rachael Gunn during Olympic qualifiers has gone viral as a petition slamming the breakdancer known as “Raygun” was removed due to defamation concerns.
A video of Australian breakdancer Molly Chapman dancing emerged on Friday after Dr Gunn spoke of her devastation after the fierce backlash following her performance at the Paris Olympics that earned a score of zero.
Chapman, who dances under the name Holy Molly and is from the NSW city of Wollongong, competed in final qualifying rounds alongside Dr Gunn in the Hungarian capital of Budapest.
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“I wish I could have seen you perform at the Olympics you would have been amazing,” said one user.
Another said “It should have been you in Paris. You’re amazing!”
Dr Gunn’s Paris performance has emerged as the biggest story of the Olympics with the backlash against the Australian breakdancer becoming a phenomenon.
A petition alleging her Olympics selection was due to corruption garnered 50,000 signatures before it was removed after Australian Olympic Committee chief executive officer Matt Carroll said it contained “numerous falsehoods” and aimed to “engender hatred” against Dr Gunn.
“It is disgraceful that these falsehoods concocted by an anonymous person can be published in this way,” he said.
“It amounts to bullying and harassment and is defamatory.”
In a video posted to her Instagram, Dr Gunn said she was honoured to perform during the Olympics debut but said she had been left devastated by the backlash and allegations of “unethical conduct”.
“I appreciate the positivity and I’m glad I was able to bring some joy into your lives that’s what I hoped,” she said.
“I didn’t realise that would also open the door to so much hate, which has frankly been pretty devastating.”
Dr Gunn said she took the performance seriously and had “worked my butt off preparing for the Olympics and I gave my all truly.”
