Rachael ‘Raygun’ Gunn has spoken out about the criticism she faced following her viral performance at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games Breaking event, noting that the experience has “transformed” her entire world.
ICYMI: Aussie B-Girl Raygun captivated audiences at the Paris 2024 Games with her set of ~unique~ dance moves at the inaugural Olympic Breaking event. Her performance, which sadly did not earn her a medal, went viral, leading to a flood of memes and even a skit on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.
Despite the 37-year-old’s performance eliciting laughter, the B-Girl also faced significant backlash. There was even a Change.org petition criticizing Raygun, along with the Australian Olympic Committee and Australia’s Chef de Mission Anna Meares, demanding an apology and an investigation into the selection process for Australia’s Breaking team.
Both the AOC and Raygun herself publicly denounced the allegations brought forth in the online petition.
After the Olympic Games uproar, the Macquarie University professor has opened up about her experience in Paris 2024, explaining how her “entire world has shifted” following her newfound fame.
“My identity has evolved. My relationships have evolved, for better or for worse. It’s during times like these that you discover who your true friends are, unfortunately,” she told Stellar Magazine, adding that she’s now focusing on her health and her family, who have also been affected by the Olympic Games attention.
Rachael ‘Raygun’ Gunn reveals most critics targeted her age and gender
Reflecting on the online negativity she received following her series of kangaroo hops, flips, and twists at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, Gunn noticed that most of the derogatory comments focused on her age.
“Our culture is deeply fixated on age,” she told the publication.
“I think it’s been a real issue for many people: me seemingly not understanding my role, what I should be doing at this stage in my life; (in their opinion) it’s certainly not participating in that environment, even though I wasn’t the oldest there.
“I had several people on Facebook and Instagram telling me what I should be doing… that I should be picking the kids up from school.”
The viral B-Girl also believes that if she were male, she would have been given “the larrikin title” and more “people would have supported” her after her performance.
“I saw a powerful meme that said, ‘The world is hard on silly women,’ alongside a photo of me,” she added.
“Women aren’t permitted to be silly.
“But I think if I were a man, I would have quickly been labeled a larrikin and people would have rallied behind me much more.”
Overall, the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and the online discussions have left Raygun “exhausted,” with the professor admitting that it’s “definitely taken a toll.”
“There was so much hate and emotion that I needed to wait for everyone to calm down a bit,” she said.
Despite this, Raygun had strong words for those who attempted to bring her down post-Olympic Games, asserting that the critics “did not defeat [her].”
“I believe the critics want me to be confined in a room, feeling ashamed and silent. Each time I leave the house, go out for dinner, visit the shops, or participate in a fashion shoot and reappear, it’s saying, ‘You didn’t succeed. I still stand by what I did. It’s OK to be different. It’s OK to be yourself. You don’t have the power you think you do,’” she shared.
Without giving away too much, Raygun revealed that she’s been quietly working on several projects “focused on self-expression and joyfulness.”
If those workshops involve doing the sprinkler and the kangaroo hop with this icon, I’m first in line!
Image source: Getty Images.
