AOC Chef de Mission Anna Meares condemns criticism of Australian breakdancer Rachael ‘Raygun’ Gunn

Australian Chef de Mission Anna Meares has furiously defended Aussie breakdancing trailblazer Rachael ‘Raygun’ Gunn who has become a viral sensation of the Paris Olympic Games. Watch her response here.

Australian Olympic team chef de mission Anna Meares launched a furious defence of breaking trailblazer Rachael ‘Raygun’ Gunn who became a viral sensation for her performance at the Paris Games.

Gunn’s scoreless performance in the breaking competition on Friday created headlines around the world with videos of her routines viewed by millions on social media.

Not all of the commentary of her Olympic debut has been scathing, with social media stars The Inspired Unemployed calling her “The new Queen of Australia”.

But Meares took offence at the keyboard warriors who’ve made their armchair remarks with no understanding of her fight for more than a decade simply for women to be accepted in her sport.

B-girl Raygun competes at the Paris Olympics. Pic: Getty Images

“I haven’t spoken to Rachael yet but what I can say is that I love Rachel and I think that what has occurred on social media with trolls and keyboard warriors and taking those comments and giving them air time has been really disappointing,” Meares said.

“If you don’t know Rachael’s story 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. And that got her to winning the Olympic qualifying event to be here in Paris.

“She is the best breakdancer female that we have for Australia.

B-girl Raygun in action. Pic: Getty Images

“And you look at the history of what we’ve had as women athletes have faced in terms of criticism, belittlement, judgement and simple comments like they shouldn’t be there.

“One hundred years ago, leading into Paris in 1924, Australia sent a team of 37 athletes and none were women.

“One hundred years later, we have 256 women represented here. And 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.”

Anna Meares, Chef de Mission of Team Australia, speaks at her final Olympic press conference. Pic: Getty Images

Meares had earlier broken down in tears when talking about her pride in the performances of all Australian athletes, adding that the chapters of the Paris 2024 book don’t simply end with a full stop at gold medals.

It’s why she believes all performances should be celebrated, not ridiculed.

“Like in sport, winning and losing, you can’t have one without the other. You can’t appreciate one without experiencing the other,” Meares said.

“And for someone to win sport you need someone to not win sport. And the fact that yes, Rachael didn’t get a point yesterday, but she was there doing her best.

“It takes great courage to walk out into any sporting environment and try, have a go that’s what we’re encouraging our kids.

“How can we continue to encourage our kids to do that when we’re prepared to slam our athletes who do it on a global stage?

“So I am very grateful for Rachael, because I think what she has done for break dancers and female break dancers in the future generations will not be really appreciated for decades to come.”

Originally published as AOC Chef de Mission Anna Meares condemns criticism of Australian breakdancer Rachael ‘Raygun’ Gunn