August 15th 2024.
Raygun was an unexpected standout at this year's Olympic Games in Paris. Despite facing some criticism, she has remained strong and has defended herself against allegations of manipulating the selection process. She has also opened up about the negative impact of online hate on her.
During the women's breaking competition at the Olympics, Raygun made headlines for her unique routine, which included a now iconic kangaroo hop. This quickly gained attention on social media and the 36-year-old university professor from Sydney became one of the unlikely stars of the Games.
However, there were claims that the Oceania qualifying event, held in Sydney last October, was arranged to favor Raygun. A petition was even started, calling for accountability for what was deemed as "unethical conduct." It was alleged that Raygun herself had a hand in setting up the governing body for the qualifier and that her husband may have been part of the selection panel.
Despite these claims being proven false, the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) released a statement condemning the treatment of Raygun in the media. The AOC's CEO, Matt Carroll, called out the petition for containing "numerous falsehoods" intended to incite hatred towards an athlete who had qualified for the Australian Olympic team through a transparent and independent process.
Raygun has chosen to remain quiet about her performance in Paris, but she recently took to Instagram to address the rumors and allegations that had been circulating online. She expressed her gratitude for the support she has received from her fans and acknowledged the negativity that has also come her way.
"It has been pretty devastating to receive so much hate," Raygun shared. "I went out there, had fun, and took the Olympics seriously. I gave it my all and I'm honored to have been a part of the Australian team and breaking's Olympic debut. The other athletes have achieved something truly phenomenal."
Addressing the allegations, Raygun urged people to refer to the recent statement by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and posts on the AUSBreaking and WDSF Breaking for Gold pages for accurate information. She also clarified that there are no points in breaking and that the comparison percentages between her and her opponents can be found on Olympics.com.
As she takes a break in Europe, Raygun implored the press to stop harassing her loved ones and the breaking community. "Everyone has been through a lot because of this, so I ask for privacy and respect during this time. I'll be happy to answer any questions upon my return to Australia. Thank you all for your support," she concluded.
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