Australian b-girl says she expected to ‘get beaten’ at Paris Olympics in first interview since controversy

Australian b-girl Rachel "Raygun" Gunn gave her first interview since her controversial performance in breakdancing's Olympic debut went viral on social media last month, leaving many viewers wondering exactly how the 36-year-old university professor qualified for the Summer Games. 

Speaking to Australia’s Network 10, Gunn called the aftermath of the Paris Games "tough." While she couldn’t anticipate the reaction to her performance and the global response it would garner, Gunn admitted that going into the competition she knew she was overmatched. 

"I knew my chances were slim," she said. "As soon as I qualified, I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, what have I done?' because I knew that I was going to get beaten, and I knew people weren’t going to understand my style and what I was going to do." 

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Gunn is a university lecturer at Macquarie University with a Ph.D. in cultural studies. "Dance" is listed as one of her research interests. Gunn qualified for the Paris Olympics after winning the QMS Oceania Championships in Sydney, Australia and was named the top-ranked b-girl by the Australian Breaking Association in 2020 and 2021. 

She became an instant viral sensation after a creative performance that included a "kangaroo dance."

"I wanted to bring out some Australian moves and themes. … That’s the wonderful thing about breaking. You can take inspiration from any source. I had to go with what I was good at. I had to go with my strengths." 

AUSTRALIAN OLYMPIC OFFICIALS, EMBATTLED B-GIRL FIRE BACK AT 'DISGRACEFUL' THEORIES OVER PARIS PERFORMANCE

Gunn said much of the criticism came from those who didn’t understand the different styles of breaking. She expected that much but didn’t anticipate the amount of vitriol she received 

"There's been a portion of very angry and, you know, awful responses, not only attacking me but attacking my husband, attacking my crew, attacking the breaking and street dance community in Australia, my family," she added.

Gunn was swept in all of her battles without ever earning a single point in the round-robin stage. 

"I haven’t watched it back, no," Gunn said of her Olympic performance. 

It’s not likely the world will get to see her again on the Olympic stage in the near future. Breaking is not on the program for the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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Security ramps up for Eagles-Packers Brazil game after players voice safety concerns

Security has ramped up ahead of the NFL’s first-ever game in Brazil after players from the Philadelphia Eagles and Green Bay Packers voiced concerns about safety in São Paulo, according to ESPN. 

The two NFC foes will battle in Week 1 at Arena Corinthians in São Paulo, marking the first NFL game played in South America.

While the NFL continues its global reach, players like Eagles star receiver A.J. Brown have noted a lot of "don’t do’s" have been passed down to those heading there. 

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"We had a meeting with a whole bunch of ‘don’t do’s,’" Brown told reporters, via ESPN. "So, I’m just trying to go down there, win a football game and come back home."

His Eagles teammate, top cornerback Darius Slay Jr., echoed Brown’s comments on his "Big Play Slay" podcast, adding that players are being told to stay put and not walk the streets. 

EAGLES STAR SAYS HE TOLD FAMILY NOT TO COME TO BRAZIL AMID SAFETY CONCERNS: ‘THE CRIME RATE IS CRAZY’

"Week 1, I’m looking forward to it, I can’t wait. But man, I do not want to go to Brazil. You want to know why? I’m here to tell you why," Slay explained. "They already told us not to leave the hotel. They told us we can’t do too much going on because the crime rate is crazy."

Slay even questioned why the NFL would want a game in Brazil in the first place, considering the safety concerns. 

"I’m like, ‘NFL, why y’all wanna send us somewhere where the crime rate is this high and we out the country?’ You know, the first thing people are thinking is like some terror could possibly happen," he said. "I told my family do not come down there because I'm not going to be nowhere to be found. I'm going to be in the hotel chilling, minding my business, playing my game after a long 9½-hour flight."

Slay later apologized for his comments, saying he was sorry if he offended anyone via social media. 

But Slay’s concerns are legitimate because he isn’t the only one voicing them. And the São Paulo state government has reacted accordingly. 

"To guarantee the safety of the players, the military police will reinforce the number of personnel upon arrival of the delegations at the Guarulhos Airport and escort the teams to their hotels, training sites and the stadium," it said in a statement, via ESPN.

This isn’t the first time the NFL has had games in locations where safety concerns were brought up, including a stop in Mexico, where games have been played since 2005. 

The Eagles and Packers will be heading to Brazil Wednesday to gear up for the start of the new 2024 NFL season, one in which both teams are expected to be playoff contenders. 

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