Revealed: Where Raygun got her break outside court

This is the Sydney stage where Aussie break dancer Rachael ‘Raygun’ Gunn, who overnight broke her silence over her Games controversy, launched her Olympics career.

This is the Sydney stage – or rather, the inner city building entrance- where Aussie break dancer Rachael ‘Raygun’ Gunn, who has broken her silence, launched her Olympics career.

Downing Centre Local Court sees plenty of foot traffic by day, but each night as darkness falls at 143 Liverpool Street, a dance troupe by the same name takes to the polished stone floor.

Australian female breaking representative and university researcher Gunn wrote an academic paper about the group in 2014 describing herself as an “active” member of the crew, who “transform the space into one of creative potential”.

A decade later, she would find herself on the world stage instead of a courthouse doorstep.

While Gunn is yet to return to home soil after her viral Olympics debut, The Daily Telegraph paid 143 Liverpool Street Familia a visit as they practised on Wednesday night. 

Members of the group sprawled across the floor or paced around, taking it in turns to take to the centre and bust a move.

The entrance of the building is apparently where it all began for Raygun. Picture: Thomas Lisson

Break dancers allegedly from Raygun’s old crew practice breaking at the Downing Centre. Picture: Thomas Lisson

Dancers tapped their feet and nodded their heads to blaring 90s hip hop music, before one burst into a fast-paced series of footwork, a windmill or two, some helicopters and a baby freeze.

As for Gunn’s zero-score performance, her transformation into a global internet sensation overnight and the questions raised over her selection to represent the nation, the camera-shy Familia crew stayed tight lipped and let their dancing do the talking.

RAYGUN BREAKS HER SILENCE

Aussie breaking competitor Rachael ‘Raygun’ Gunn is calling criticism of her performance “devastating” after the AOC issued a lengthy rebuke to those questioning her selection for the team.

The 36 year-old, who went viral online after her unique performance, took to Instagram on Thursday night, posting a short clip thanking fans for their support and claiming she tried her hardest in the competition.

“I’m glad I was able to bring some joy into your lives, I didn’t realised that would also open the door to so much hate,” Gunn said in the clip.

“Franky, it’s been pretty devastating when I went out there and had fun, I did take it very seriously.

“I worked my butt off preparing for the Olympics, I gave my all.”

The university academic also acknowledged the impact her performance had on Australia’s breakdancing community, her family and friends, and asked for privacy.

“Everyone has been through a lot as a result of this,” Gunn said.

“I’m going to be in Europe for some pre-planned downtime... I’ll be happy to answer more questions on my return to Australia.”

Addressing controversy around her selection, Gunn said she had been “honoured” to be selected as Australia’s female breaking athlete, telling critics to refer to the statements of the Australian Olympics Committee (AOC) and other sporting bodies issued in her defence.

Earlier on Thursday, the AOC issued a stunning rebuke to Gunn’s critics, describing questions over the selection process which put her on the world stage as “malicious” and “defamatory”, as a petition on the matter continues to gain traction.

In a strongly worded statement, the AOC said the breaking qualification event and nomination processes were “transparent and independent”, and to suggest otherwise was “vexatious, misleading and bullying”.

Australian Olympic Committee CEO Matt Carroll has hit back at Raygun’s critics. Picture: AFP

The statement comes as a response to an online petition calling on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to “Hold Raygun Rachel (sic) Gunn & Anna Mears (sic) Accountable for Unethical Conduct Olympic Selection”, which had been signed by nearly 50,000 people before it was removed on Thursday.

The anonymous petitioner alleges that Dr Gunn “manipulated the selection process to her own advantage”, while other female breakers “were unfairly overloooked”.

The committee’s CEO Matt Carroll said the allegations were “appalling”.

“The AOC is particularly offended by the affront to our Chef de Mission, Anna Meares,” he said.

“The Australian Team Chef de Mission played no role in the qualification events nor the nomination of athletes to the AOC Selection Committee, of which the Chef and I are members.

“It is disgraceful that these falsehoods concocted by an anonymous person can be published in this way. It amounts to bullying and harassment and is defamatory … (and) has stirred up public hatred without any factual basis.

“No athlete who has represented their country at the Olympic Games should be treated in this way and we are supporting Dr Gunn and Anna Meares at this time.”

Raygun during her performance on August 9. Picture: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

The AOC also wrote to Change.org demanding the petition be taken down, and has categorically denied any federal taxpayer money went into RayGun’s Olympic campaign.

“The Australian Olympic Committee fully funded the Australian Olympic Team’s campaign to Paris,” the statement read.

“No Federal taxpayer’s funds were sought, nor provided for the Olympic Teams’ Paris campaign. The $25 million dollar cost for the Team was met entirely by the Australian Olympic Committee.”

It also defended the qualification process with a twelve-point timeline, beginning with RayGun’s victory in the Oceania Breaking Championship last year as determined by nine independent international judges, and confirming her husband, coach and fellow breaker Samual Free “holds no position with AUSBreaking or DanceSport Australia in any capacity”.

“Dr Gunn has no responsibility for any funding decisions in her sport,” the AOC said.