Australian dancer Rachel Gunn says the backlash she has received since competing at the Paris Olympics has been “devastating” and has asked for privacy for her family and friends.
“I really appreciate the positivity and I’m happy that I was able to bring some joy into your lives. That’s what I was hoping for,” said Jean, who is known as B-Girl Raygun. He said in an Instagram post on Thursday,.
“I didn’t realize that this would also open the door to so much hate, which was honestly very devastating.”
Jean was widely criticized online and in mainstream media after losing all three league events in Paris, where breakdancing made its Olympic debut. “I went there and enjoyed it — I took it seriously,” she said. “I worked really hard for the Olympics and I did my best. Really.”
The Australian Olympic Committee earlier on Thursday condemned an online petition calling for an investigation into John’s selection for the Paris Olympics, saying it contained lies intended to incite hatred against her.
Australian Olympic Committee chief executive Matt Carroll said the petition “stirred up public hatred without any factual basis,” adding that it was “disturbing, misleading and bullying.” Carroll also said in his statement that the 36-year-old Gunn “was selected through a transparent and independent qualification and nomination process.”
Jan asked for her privacy to be respected, saying: “I would really like to ask the press to stop harassing my family, friends, the Australian breaking community and the wider street dancing community. Everyone has been through a lot as a result of this, so I ask that you respect their privacy.”
Jan said she would spend a few weeks on a pre-planned vacation in Europe and would answer any further questions when she returned to Australia. A Change.org petition calling for Jan to apologize has gathered more than 54,000 signatures. The Australian Olympic Committee wrote to the organization asking for the petition to be removed and it has now disappeared from the site.
There will be no break in the sports programme for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
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