Raygun has spoken out about the "devastating" abuse she received after her breakdancing routine at the Olympics went viral.
Rachael Gunn, who performed under the stage name Raygun, gained widespread attention for her routine, particularly for a move dubbed the "kangaroo dance," which quickly went viral.
Despite her efforts, Gunn failed to score any points in the competition and was met with intense criticism, including parodies of her performance on U.S. late-night television.
Online detractors have accused the organizers of the Oceania qualifying event, held in Sydney last October, of bias, suggesting the event was set up to favor Gunn and questioning the judging that led to her qualification, per Sky News.
The backlash reached a new level with a petition signed by over 50,000 people criticizing Gunn's participation.
In response, Australian Olympic officials condemned the petition, labeling it "misleading and bullying."
Gunn took to Instagram to address the controversy in a self-recorded video, expressing her distress over the negative response.
"I just want to start by thanking all the people who have supported me—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 said.
However, she also acknowledged the toll the backlash has taken, saying: "I didn't realize that that would also open the door to so much hate, which has frankly been pretty devastating."
Despite the criticism, Gunn emphasized her dedication to the sport, stating: "I went out there and I had fun. I did take it very seriously. I worked my butt off working for the Olympics. I gave my all, truly."
She also expressed her pride in being part of the Australian Olympic team and the historic breaking debut, saying: "I'm honored to have been a part of the Australian Olympic team and breaking Olympic debut. What the other athletes have achieved has been phenomenal."
As she plans to spend the next few weeks in Europe for some "pre-planned downtime," Gunn urged the media to respect the privacy of her loved ones and the broader street dance community.
"Please stop harassing my family, my friends, the Australian breaking community, and the broader street dance community," she pleaded.
In response to the petition, Gunn deferred to the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) for further comment.
AOC Chief Executive Matt Carroll strongly condemned the petition, calling it "appalling."
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