Olympics 2024: Australian Exec Defends Breaker Raygun Amid Trolling

2024 Olympics: Australia’s Olympic Chief Defends Breakdancer Raygun from “Disappointing” Attacks

Rachael “Raygun” Gunn was a breaker of social media when she competed in the 2024 Olympics.

The breakdancer, an Australian university lecturer with a Ph.D. in cultural studies, was the target of hateful comments from internet trolls after her viral performance during the sport’s Olympic debut Aug. 9, during which she lost all three of her B-Girl round-robin battles. And Australia’s Olympic chief was not having it.

“I love Rachael,” Chef de mission Anna Meares said about the 36-year-old at a press conference Aug. 10, per Reuters. “and I think that what has occurred on social media with trolls and keyboard warriors, and taking those comments and giving them airtime, has been really disappointing.”

The executive continued, “Raygun is an absolutely loved member of this Olympic team. She has represented the Olympic team, the Olympic spirit with great enthusiasm. And I absolutely love her courage. I love her character, and I feel very disappointed for her, that she has come under the attack that she has.”

On social media, viewers had mocked Gunn’s unconventional breakdancing moves, which included one dubbed “the kangaroo.” She later brushed off the comments.

“Don’t be afraid to be different, go out there and represent yourself,” she wrote on Instagram. “You never know where that’s gonna take you.”

The Sydney-based Macquarie University lecturer also noted that she “was always the underdog” in the competition—which was won by Japan’s Ami Yuasa, or B-Girl Ami—and reflected on her unique style.

Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

“All my moves are original,” Gunn told reporters after her performance, per News.com.au. “I was never going to beat these girls on what they do best, the dynamic and the power moves.”

She continued, “So I wanted to move differently, be artistic and creative because how many chances do you get in a lifetime to do that on an international stage?”

And speaking of style, Trolls also ridiculed Gunn’s outfit, a green and yellow Australian Olympic tracksuit and matching cap. The Olympian responded to her fashion critics, writing on her Instagram Stories, “Looking forward to the same level of scrutiny on what the bboys wear tomorrow.”

Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

Meares noted the history of misogyny that has been directed at female athletes for the past century.

“In 2008, she was locked in a room crying being involved in a male dominated sport as the only woman, and it took great courage for her to continue on and fight for her opportunity to participate in a sport that she loved,” she said about Gunn. “That got her to winning the Olympic qualifying event to be here in Paris.”

Meares added, “She is the best breakdancer female that we have for Australia.”

Look back at the most emotional moments from the 2024 Paris Olympics…

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Aug. 10: Sport Climbing

Gold medalist Janja Garnbret of Team Slovenia celebrates with silver medalist Brooke Raboutou of Team USA after they completed the women’s Boulder & Lead final.

Christian Petersen/Getty Images

Aug. 9: Track & Field

First-time Olympian Sha’carri Richardson of Team USA looks on after winning her first Olympic gold medal by placing first in the women’s 4x100m relay final.

Kirill KUDRYAVTSEV / AFP

Aug. 8: Track & Field

Team USA’s Tara Davis-Woodhall embraces her husband and Paralympic athlete Hunter Woodhall after winning the women’s long jump final. 

Andrzej Iwanczuk/NurPhoto/Shutterstock

Aug. 8: Canoe Sprint

Joan Antoni Moreno and Diego Dominguez of Team Spain yell in celebration after the men’s canoe double 500m final. 

Panoramic/SIPA/Shutterstock

Aug. 7: Marathon Race Walk Mixed Relay

Spain’s Maria Perez and Alvaro Martin pop champagne to celebrate their gold medals. 

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Aug. 7: Cycling

Kelland O’Brien of Team Australia is emotional after his team, also including Sam Welsford, Conor Leahy and Oliver Bleddyn, won gold. The Austalian cyclists set a new world record with 3:40.730. 

Patrick Smith/Getty Images

Aug. 6: Track & Field

TEAM USA’s Gabby Thomas snaps a selfie with her partner Spencer McManes after winning gold in the women’s 200m final. 

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Aug. 6: Track & Field

Cole Hocker of Team USA celebrates after winning the gold for the men’s 1500m. Hocker won by .14 seconds. 

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Aug. 5: Pole Vault 

Swedish athlete Armand Duplantis celebrates after setting a new world record in the men’s pole vault. 

Simon West/Action Plus/Shutterstock

Aug. 5: Badminton 

An Se-young of Korea celebrates after defeating He Bingjiao of China 2-0 in their match. 

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Aug. 5: Surfing 

Johanne Defay hugs Simon Paillard, her husband and coach, after winning bronze for France. 

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Aug. 5: Gymnastics 

Simone Biles hugs an emotional Jordan Chiles after winning bronze for the women’s floor routine final, marking Chiles’ first individual Olympic medal. 

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Aug. 2: Gymnastics 

Britain’s Bryony Page is ecsatic after winning gold for the women’s trampoline final in gymnastics. 

Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images

Aug. 2: Fencing 

Team Czechia’s Michal Cupr, Jiri Beran, Jakub Jurka, Martin Rubes celebrate after defeating France for the men’s bronze medal. 

LOIC VENANCE/AFP via Getty Images

Aug. 1: Gymnastics

USA gymnast Simone Biles beams after winning gold in the women’s all-around final, sporting her “GOAT” necklace.

Matthew Stockman/Getty Images

Aug. 1: Tennis

Great Britain’s Andy Murray—who announced his retirement before the Paris Games—tearfully bids farewell to the crowd after being eliminated alongside Dan Evans in the men’s doubles.

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Aug. 1: Table Tennis

Tomokazu Harimoto of Team Japan lets off some steam during his match against China’s Fan Zhendong.

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Aug. 1: Swimming

Men’s 200m backstroke silver medalist Apostolos Christou of Greece gets emotional while standing on the podium.

Joris Verwijst/BSR Agency/Getty Images

Aug. 1: Tennis

Spanish tennis Carlos Alcaraz lets out a victorious scream after defeating Tommy Paul of Team USA in men’s single.

SEBASTIEN BOZON / AFP via Getty Images

July 31: Diving

Great Britain’s bronze medalists Andrea Spendolini Sirieix and Lois Toulson share a raw moment after the women’s synchronized 10m platform diving final.

Pascal GUYOT / AFP via Getty Images

July 31: Soccer

Korbin Albert gets emotional after scoring a goal in the women’s soccer game.

Sarah Stier/Getty Images

July 31: Swimming

Team Sweden’s Sarah Sjoestroem celebrates her gold medal in the Women’s 100m Freestyle Final.

Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

July 31: Swimming

Team USA’s Katie Ledecky reacts to winning gold in the Women’s 1500m Freestyle Final.

Richard Ellis/UPI/Shutterstock

July 31: Swimming

French swimmer Anastasiia Kirpichnikova cries tears of joy after seeing her silver medal-winning time in women’s 1500m freestyle event.

Luis ROBAYO / AFP via Getty Images

July 31: Judo 

Serbia’s Nemanja Majdov (L) and Greece’s Theodoros Tselidis (R) share a moment after their round in the men’s 90kg round of 16 in judo. Tselildis, who beat Majdov, later won the bronze medal. 

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July 31: Sabre

Manon Apithy-Brunet (L) kisses her husband France’s Bolade Apithy after his team beat Egypt. 

Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

July 31: Triathalon 

Gold medalist Alex Yee of Team Great Britain and silver medalist Hayden Wilde of Team New Zealand share a subtle celebratory moment after crossing the finish line. 

Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

July 31: Rugby 

Team New Zealand leaps for joy after beating Canada in the Women’s Rugby Sevens Gold medal match. 

Michael Reaves/Getty Images

July 31: Field Hockey

Agustina Gorzelany of Team Argentina celebrates her team’s first goal in a match against Spain. Argentina ended up winning the match 2-1. 

Charles McQuillan/Getty Images

July 31: Shooting

Team Guatemala’s Adriana Ruano Oliva gets emotional after realizing she’s won the gold medal—her country’s very first—in the shooting trap women’s final. 

Watch the 2024 Paris Olympics daily on NBC and Peacock until the summer games end with the Closing Ceremony on Sunday, Aug. 11, at 7 p.m. ET/PT.