Australian Olympic Committee chief executive Matt Carroll said the petition was “nuisance, misleading and bullying”.
Australian breakdancer Rachel “Raegan” Gunn's recent performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics was so bad that Australians started a petition, doubting she had selected herself to represent Australia in breakdancing at the Olympics.
The petition, created on the change.org platform on August 12, has garnered over 50,000 signatures.
The petition reportedly calls for “immediate accountability and transparency regarding recent actions” from Mr Gunn and head of the Paris delegation Anna Mears over how Mr Gunn was selected to represent Australia in Paris. people.
“Operating the Selection Process”
Gunn has been accused of “manipulating the selection process in his favour” to be chosen over more talented Australian female breakers, and the allegations “raise serious questions about the fairness and integrity of the selection process”.
“We demand a public apology from Rachel Gunn and Anna Meares.” [sic] “They have misled the Australian public, attempted to gaslight the public and undermined the hard work of genuine athletes,” the statement said.
Gunn and her dance have been mocked across social media through memes and malicious comments.
We think we've calmed down enough to declare which green screen meme of Australian Olympic breakdancer Ray Gunn is the best. pic.twitter.com/aroSXi1IrS
— Claws for Pause (@PauseForClaws) August 14, 2024
Posting Olympic memes in real life #Raygun pic.twitter.com/uBe1PfS2PE
— Rudy Willingham (@RudyWillingham) August 13, 2024
Did not return home with Australian players
The 36-year-old has reportedly chosen to remain in Europe rather than return to Australia with the other Australian athletes who took part in the Olympics.
But the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) said on Thursday the petition amounted to bullying.
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AOC defends Gunn
AOC CEO Matt Carroll called the petition “troubling, misleading and bullying.”
“Athletes who have represented their country at the Olympics should not be treated this way and we support Dr Gunn and Anna Meares at this time,” Carroll said.
The CEO said AOC had written to change.org, requesting that the petition be removed immediately. The link to the petition is currently inaccessible as it is under review.
Gunn, a university lecturer from Sydney, lost all three round-robin matches by a combined score of 54-0.
Carroll stressed that the Australian was selected through a transparent and independent qualification and nomination process.
“AOC is particularly upset by the insults levelled at our head of delegation. [team boss]Anna Mears,” he said.
“[Meares] “The Chef and I are not involved in any way with the nomination of athletes to the AOC Selection Committee, of which we are members, or with the qualifying events.”
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