The Australian Olympic Committee has criticized an nameless on-line petition attacking controversial Paris Video games breaking competitor Rachael Gunn, saying the petition was “vexatious, deceptive and bullying.”
Final weekend, the game of breaking made its Olympic debut.
One of many lasting photos was the efficiency of an Australian b-girl often called 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 closely criticized for her efficiency with parodies even being performed out on a late evening tv present in the USA.
Gunn took her response to all the net criticism to Instagram on Thursday.
“I actually admire the positivity, and I am glad I used to be capable of carry some pleasure into your lives. That is what I hoped,” Gunn stated. “I did not understand that that will additionally open the door to a lot hate, which has, frankly, been fairly devastating.”
Gunn, who has not but returned to Australia following the Video games, obtained robust assist from Australian staff chef de mission Anna Meares whereas nonetheless in Paris. On Thursday, the AOC went a significant step additional, refuting quite a few inaccurate tales it says have appeared on-line since.
Chief government officer Matt Carroll stated the AOC has written to vary.org, which had printed a petition criticizing Gunn and the AOC, demanding that it’s instantly withdrawn.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.
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 staff by way of a clear and unbiased qualification occasion and nomination course of.”
“It’s disgraceful that these falsehoods concocted by an nameless particular person might be printed 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 must be handled on this method . . . “
On-line criticism this previous week has included strategies 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 performed beneath the Olympic qualification system decided by the worldwide governing physique, World DanceSport Federation (WDSF) and authorised by Worldwide Olympic Committee.
It stated the judging panel for the occasion was chosen by the WDSF and consisted of 9 unbiased worldwide judges.
Unattributed social media feedback additionally urged 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 just an athlete who competed within the qualifying occasion which she gained.”
Breaking on the Olympics may be a one-and-done in Paris. It isn’t on the competitors listing for the subsequent Olympics in Los Angeles in 2028, and in addition is unlikely to seem in 2032 at Brisbane, Australia.
Japan’s Ami Yuasa gained the primary ever breaking gold medal within the girls’s class on the Paris Olympics.
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