A leading breakdancing coach has voiced concerns following Australia’s contentious choice to have Raygun represent the nation.
The Olympic Games concluded on Sunday (August 11), but some of the events in Paris continue to stir discussions.
One hot topic is the performance of Australian breakdancer Raygun, who received a score of zero from the judges.
The video of her performance has gone viral, attracting a mix of reactions online.
Amid this, Raygun, whose real name is Rachael Gunn, has addressed the ‘devastating’ online trolling she’s faced.
In an Instagram video, she said: “I really appreciate the positivity and I’m glad I was able to bring some joy into your lives, that’s what I hoped.”
She added: “I didn’t realize that would also open the door to so much hate, which has frankly been pretty devastating. But I went out there and had fun.”
Raygun secured her Olympic spot by winning the 2023 Oceania Breaking Championships, defeating finalist Molly Chapman.
Liam Masters, a breakdancing expert who coached Raygun’s teammate Jeff ‘J-Attack’ Dunne, has proposed changes to the qualification process.
In an Instagram post, he explained: “Raygun entered the Oceania qualifier that was held in Sydney about 10 months ago.”
“She entered that and she won it. The prize for winning that was that she got a spot in the Olympics.
“What I think may be needed is they need to introduce a qualifying score or a benchmark that’s needed – and the judges’ approval that that’s the level that is required for the international events, such as the Olympics.”
He continued: “If they don’t reach the benchmark, or the score is not there, then they are given the opportunity to represent in one of the other qualifiers that may be held, to improve their score and to prove that they are worthy of a spot in the top 16 at the Olympics.”
Additionally, Masters called on organizations like the World Dance Sport Federation (WDSF) to support Raygun amid the ongoing trolling and expressed his own support for the 36-year-old dancer.
Reports suggest that the Australian Olympic team appointed a safeguarding officer to assist Raygun during the Games following her performance.
Sergey Nifontov, general secretary of the WDSF, commented: “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.”
It remains unclear if Raygun is receiving support now that the Games have concluded.