Australian officers are pushing again on what they are saying are quite a few faulty tales about breaking competitor Rachael Gunn – generally known as Raygun.
SYDNEY, NSW — The Australian Olympic Committee has criticized an nameless on-line petition attacking controversial Paris Games breaking competitor Rachael Gunn, saying the petition was “vexatious, deceptive and bullying.”
Final weekend, the sport of breaking made its Olympic debut. One of many lasting pictures was the efficiency of an Australian b-girl generally known as Raygun — 36-year-old Sydney college professor Gunn — who did a “kangaroo dance” amongst different questionable strikes throughout her routine, and scored zero factors.
Gunn was subsequently heavily criticized for her efficiency with parodies even being performed out on a late night time tv present in america.
Gunn, who has not but returned to Australia following the Video games, acquired sturdy help from Australian workforce chef de mission Anna Meares whereas nonetheless in Paris. On Thursday, the AOC went a significant step additional, refuting quite a few faulty tales it says have appeared on-line since.
Chief govt officer Matt Carroll stated the the AOC had written to alter.org, which had revealed a petition criticizing Gunn and the AOC, demanding that it’s instantly withdrawn.
Greater than 40,000 folks have signed the petition claiming Gunn had “manipulated” Olympic qualification processes.
Raygun posted a video on Thursday saying that every one the hate has “been fairly devastating.” She added that she “gave her all, actually.”
Carroll says the petition “contained quite a few falsehoods designed to engender hatred in opposition to an athlete who was chosen within the Australian Olympic workforce by a clear and impartial qualification occasion and nomination course of.”
“It’s disgraceful that these falsehoods concocted by an nameless individual could be revealed on this method,” Carroll stated. “It quantities to bullying and harassment and is defamatory. We’re demanding that it’s faraway from the location instantly. No athlete who has represented their nation on the Olympic Video games needs to be handled on this method . . . “
On-line criticism this previous week has included options that the Oceania qualifying occasion held in Sydney final October was set as much as favor Gunn, and questioned the judging which allowed Gunn to qualify.
The AOC stated Thursday the Oceania qualifying occasion was carried out below the Olympic qualification system decided by the worldwide governing physique, World DanceSport Federation (WDSF) and authorized by Worldwide Olympic Committee.
It stated the judging panel for the occasion was chosen by the WDSF and consisted of 9 impartial worldwide judges.
Unattributed social media feedback additionally recommended Gunn and her husband, fellow breaker Samuel Free, had held positions inside Australian breaking organizations.
“Rachael Gunn holds no place with AUSBreaking or DanceSport Australia in any capability,” the AOC stated Thursday. “She is solely an athlete who competed within the qualifying occasion which she received.”
Breaking on the Olympics may be a one-and-done in Paris. It’s not on the competitors listing for the following Olympics in Los Angeles in 2028, and in addition is unlikely to seem in 2032 at Brisbane, Australia.
