By Nick Mulvenney
PARIS (Reuters) – Australia’s Chef de Mission Anna Meares has hit out at criticism of Rachael Gunn after the breakdancer was pilloried online and in mainstream media for her performance in the sport’s Games debut in Paris.
Gunn, a 36-year-old Australian university lecturer known in breaking as B-Girl Raygun, lost all three of her round robin battles by a combined score of 54-0 on Friday.
“I love Rachael, and I think that what has occurred on social media with trolls and keyboard warriors, and taking those comments and giving them air time, has been really disappointing,” Meares told a news conference on Saturday.
“Raygun is an absolutely loved member of this Olympic team. She has represented the Olympic team, the Olympic spirit with great enthusiasm.
“And I absolutely love her courage. I love her character, and I feel very disappointed for her, that she has come under the attack that she has.”
Meares said that criticism of Gunn’s performance and appearance was consistent with the sort of misogynistic abuse that female athletes had suffered over the last century as they fought for their space in the sporting world.
“In 2008, she was locked in a room crying being involved in a male dominated sport as the only woman, and it took great courage for her to continue on and fight for her opportunity to participate in a sport that she loved,” the former Olympic champion cyclist said.
“That got her to winning the Olympic qualifying event to be here in Paris, she is the best breakdancer female that we have for Australia.
“Now you look at the history of what we have had as women athletes, has faced in terms of criticism, belittlement, judgment, and simple comments like they shouldn’t be there.
“100 years ago, leading into Paris 1924 Australia sent a team of 37 athletes. None were women. 100 years later, we have 256 women representing here.”
(Reporting by Nick Mulvenney, editing by Christian Radnedge)
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