Rachael "Raygun" Gunn, Australia's first Olympic breakdancer, says the past month or so have been "a wild ride".
In an interview with Channel 10's The Project, Raygun spoke openly about her Olympic experience, the controversy surrounding her routine and the personal struggles she's faced since her time on the world stage in Paris.
"It's been amazing to see the positive response to my performance," Raygun said to host Waleed Aly. "But it's also been tough at times."
Raygun made headlines across the globe when her unique breaking routine at the Paris Olympics 2024 became a viral sensation.
Known for incorporating Australian-themed moves like a kangaroo hop, a snake slithering, and a t-rex shuffle, her performance was widely criticised.
She lost all three of her battles in the round robin portion of the competition, finishing 16th and last in the event, which drew scrutiny from the media and breaking community alike.
In her interview with The Project, Raygun revealed she didn't immediately realise the scale of the backlash until the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) advised her to get off social media.
Rachael Gunn has spoken with The Project in Australia about her Olympics performance and the reaction that followed. (Source: Breakfast)
"I didn't understand the scale of it," she admitted. "I previewed some comments, and that sick feeling just started coming up.
"It was pretty wild."
She also spoke about a journalist chasing her down the street shortly after her performance.
"That really put me in a state of panic for a while," she said.
"I didn't know what was safe, and it made me really nervous to be out in public."
Despite the backlash, Raygun said she was also overwhelmed by the positivity too – although she confessed she still had not watched back her Olympic routine, adding she's only seen "bits and pieces" but plans to watch it in full eventually.
She said she received an "overwhelming" amount of support from her fellow Australian Olympic team during the closing ceremony in Paris: "It was just crazy, the Australians were all cheering, and that so warmed my heart."
'The odds were against me'
Raygun's controversy extended beyond her performance, with accusations about how she qualified for the Olympics in the first place.
Some critics alleged she manipulated the selection process and a petition questioning her qualification with over 50,000 signatures was quickly condemned by the AOC.
"The conspiracy theories were really upsetting," Raygun said.
"It was attacking my reputation and integrity, and none of it was grounded in facts."
When asked about her selection, Raygun said she qualified for the Olympics by winning the Oceania Championships in November 2023.
"I knew my chances were slim. I knew I was going to get beaten. The odds were against me," she added.
But she said her qualification was fair and there were no shortcuts.
In response to criticism from one of the judges, she said: "I knew people wouldn't understand my style, but I had to go with my strengths.
"I am very sorry for the backlash that the community experienced."
What's next for Raygun?
Raygun revealed she had no plans to compete again for "a while".
"I'm not really wanting to be in the spotlight," she explained. "It's been tough to get back into dancing.
"I'd much rather focus on the joy that I've brought people.
"It's about going out there and having fun, even in the face of losing."
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