Breaker Raygun Defends Her Record, Says Criticism Was Born of Ignorance 

Paris 2024 Olympics - Breaking - B-Girls Round Robin - La Concorde 1, Paris, France - August 09, 2024. Raygun of Australia in action. (Reuters)
Paris 2024 Olympics - Breaking - B-Girls Round Robin - La Concorde 1, Paris, France - August 09, 2024. Raygun of Australia in action. (Reuters)
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Breaker Raygun Defends Her Record, Says Criticism Was Born of Ignorance 

Paris 2024 Olympics - Breaking - B-Girls Round Robin - La Concorde 1, Paris, France - August 09, 2024. Raygun of Australia in action. (Reuters)
Paris 2024 Olympics - Breaking - B-Girls Round Robin - La Concorde 1, Paris, France - August 09, 2024. Raygun of Australia in action. (Reuters)

Australian Rachael "Raygun" Gunn has defended her breakdancing skills and suggested much of the criticism she received for her performance at the Paris Olympics last month was born of ignorance of the sport.

Gunn became an overnight sensation after losing all three of her round robin battles by a combined score of 54-0 when breaking made its Olympic debut at the Place de la Concorde.

The university lecturer was mocked online and in the mainstream media for everything from her moves to her green official team uniform in a frenzy of criticism she described as "alarming".

The 37-year-old said she knew the odds were against her going into the competition but maintained that she was the best female breaker in Australia.

"I think my record speaks to that," she told Australia's Channel 10 TV in her first interview since the Games.

"I was the top ranked Australian B girl in 2020 and 2022, and 2023 ... so the record is there. But anything can happen in a battle."

Gunn said she had received plenty of support as well as the brickbats but admitted it was sad to hear criticism from other Australian breakers.

"I am very sorry for the backlash that the community has experienced, but I can't control how people react," she added.

"Unfortunately, we just need some more resources in Australia for us to have a chance to be world champions.

"In the last year, I have trained my hardest ... I have really put my body through it, put my mind through it. But if that's not good enough for someone, what can I say?"

Gunn said a lot of the criticism came from people who just did not understand the different styles of breaking and what she was trying to achieve in the competition.

"It was really sad how much hate that it did evoke," she said.

"And a lot of the responses is also just due to people not being very familiar with breaking and the diversity of approaches in breaking.

"(But) the energy and vitriol that people had was pretty alarming."

An online petition accusing Gunn of manipulating the qualification procedure to earn her Paris spot attracted 50,000 signatures before it was removed at the request of the Australian Olympic Committee.

"The conspiracy theories were just awful," Gunn said. "That was really upsetting, because it wasn't just people that didn't understand breaking and were just angry about my performance.

"It was people that are now attacking our reputation and our integrity. And none of them were grounded in any kind of facts. People still don't believe the truth, but ... I think that's just going to be part of our reality, unfortunately."

Gunn said she was unlikely to be competing again any time soon but was confident she would come through her Paris experience relatively unscathed.

"I'll survive, I'm all right," she concluded. "I would rather much focus on the positives out of this, and the positive responses and the joy that I brought people."



England Captain Kane Sets Sights on Ronaldo's Enduring Career

England's striker #20 Harry Kane applauds the fans following the International friendly football match between England and Bosnia and Herzegovina at St James' Park in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, north east England on June 3, 2024. England won the match 3-0. (AFP)
England's striker #20 Harry Kane applauds the fans following the International friendly football match between England and Bosnia and Herzegovina at St James' Park in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, north east England on June 3, 2024. England won the match 3-0. (AFP)
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England Captain Kane Sets Sights on Ronaldo's Enduring Career

England's striker #20 Harry Kane applauds the fans following the International friendly football match between England and Bosnia and Herzegovina at St James' Park in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, north east England on June 3, 2024. England won the match 3-0. (AFP)
England's striker #20 Harry Kane applauds the fans following the International friendly football match between England and Bosnia and Herzegovina at St James' Park in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, north east England on June 3, 2024. England won the match 3-0. (AFP)

England captain Harry Kane plans to follow Cristiano Ronaldo's example by extending his career as long as possible.
Portugal striker Ronaldo scored the 900th goal of his remarkable career in a Nations League victory over Croatia on Thursday.
It was the 39-year-old's 213th appearance for his country and the achievement has provided Bayern Munich forward Kane with an incentive as he approaches the latter stages of his own career.
Kane endured a difficult Euro 2024 as Gareth Southgate's side were beaten 2-1 in the final by Spain after a spluttering campaign.
But the 31-year-old is keen to follow in the footsteps of former Manchester United and Real Madrid star Ronaldo as he prepares for England's Nations League opener against Ireland in Dublin on Saturday.
"Cristiano is the benchmark, not only being one of the best footballers ever to play, but also the benchmark of how long you can play for at a higher level," Kane told reporters on Friday.
"I think sometimes in football and maybe in sport in general, there's a perception that when you get to your thirties it's time to start slowing down, playing fewer games and not playing to the high level.
"Cristiano is just showing that every week, every time he plays, every time he scores, so from my point of view, that's the aim.
"I want to play as long as possible for England and it's great to see other athletes doing it in front of me. It shows that it's possible, and it's just about how you feel yourself.
"I feel in a really good place, both physically and mentally and whatever noise there is around, as long as you keep performing and keep doing what you know you can, that's all you can do."
Kane is in line to win his 99th cap against Ireland after another draining summer, with little time to rest after the Euros before returning to action.
While acknowledging the physical demands of ever-longer seasons, the former Tottenham striker said the increasing pressure is something players simply have to get used to.
"There was a lot of talk during the Euros about me and my condition, but like I said then, I felt in good shape," he said.
"Did the games go the way I wanted? No. Not really. But there were a lot of us who felt below par in terms of individual performances and we did extremely well to get to where we got to, which was down to our team spirit and cohesion we created over the years.
"But sometimes when it does not go the way you wanted it to go, there is always something to look for and someone to blame. But I feel good, I have come back in a good place and I have started the season well."