Rachael “Raygun” Gunn, an Australian Olympic athlete, broke her silence after she was criticized for her performance during the break dancing competition at the Paris Olympics.
In her Instagram post, the 36-year-old said she “gave her all” during the competition.
Her unique style of break dancing, which included a kangaroo hop, caught the attention of American celebrities such as Jimmy Fallon and Grammy award-winning singer, Adele.
It has been reported that an online petition calling for a public apology from the athlete has been created.
The Australian Olympic Committee criticized her performance and called her actions “vexatious, misleading, and bullying.”
In her Instagram post, she thanked her fans for their support.
I didn’t anticipate the level of hate that would result from my participation in the Olympics. I was devastated by the outcome.
Raygun, who was reportedly not taken seriously during her debut, stated that she had fun and gave it her all.
In her statement, she expressed her gratitude for being part of the Australian team and for participating in her Olympic debut.
She also asked the media to stop harassing her friends and family. She noted that she would be happy to answer any questions about her experience back home.
On Wednesday, she was not able to join the rest of the team and took a holiday.
The AOC criticized the petition, which demanded a public apology from Anna Meares and Rachael Gunn for their unethical actions during the selection process for the Olympic team.
Matt Carroll, the group’s executive director, said the petition was appalling and had no factual basis.
The Change.org petition, which was created by an anonymous user, claims that the athlete rigged the qualification process for the Olympic break dancing event.