‘Vexatious and misleading’: AOC furious over Raygun accusations

The Australian Olympic Committee has labelled a petition accusing breaking athlete Rachael Gunn of manipulating the Olympic selection “vexatious” and “misleading”, after it received more than 45,000 signatures within three days.

Gunn – who competes under the moniker Raygun – has been the subject of global criticism and ridicule following an Olympic performance that included moves imitating a kangaroo and resulted in her receiving a score of zero in all three of her battles.

Almost a week on from the 36-year-old’s performance, the backlash has continued, with a change.org petition addressed to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and the Australian Olympic Committee calling for Gunn and Australian chef de mission Anna Meares to be held “accountable for unethical conduct”.

The petition accuses Gunn of setting up her own governing body for breakdancing, manipulating the selection process and denying funding for a youth group to attend qualifiers. It also claims young Australian breaking athletes were unfairly overlooked for Olympic selection.

The AOC issued a statement on Thursday condemning the anonymous online petition, and AOC chief executive Matt Carroll said he had written to change.org demanding it be taken down immediately.

“The AOC is particularly offended by the affront to our chef de mission, Anna Meares,” Carroll 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.

B-girl Raygun went viral after breaking’s introduction to the Games.Credit: Getty Images

“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. We are demanding that it be removed from the site immediately.

“The petition has stirred up public hatred without any factual basis. It’s appalling. 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.

“It’s important that the community understands the facts and that people do not form opinions based on malicious untruths and misinformation.”

Governing body AusBreaking also released a statement addressing the accusations, including a claim Gunn’s husband, Samuel Free, was involved in the selection process.

AOC chief executive Matt Carroll.Credit:

“Contrary to circulating misinformation, Dr. Gunn’s husband, Raygun’s coach, was not a member of the selection panel or judging committee,” AusBreaking said.

“This would have constituted a conflict of interest, and the Olympics hold strict standards that would never have allowed this to pass.”

The Oceania Olympic selection event, held in October last year, consisted of a nine-person judging panel which did not include any Australian judges. AusBreaking said the judges were “trained to uphold the highest standards of impartiality” and are all “highly respected in their respective communities and in the international breaking scene.”

“Ultimately, Rachael Gunn and Jeff Dunne emerged as the top performers in exactly the same process, securing their spots to represent Australia in Paris. Their selection was based solely on their performance in their battles on that day ... We condemn the global online harassment and bullying of Raygun.

“The pressure to perform on the Olympic stage is immense, especially against the opponents in her particular group. We stand in solidarity with Raygun.”

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