- Some Australian ‘B-girls’ have been targeted by online trolls
- Follow ‘Raygun’ and his Olympic performance in Paris
- Sport will not be present at the 2028 Games in Los Angeles
A leading Australian dancer has revealed that several of the country’s top dancers have been subjected to savage online harassment after Rachael “Raygun” Gunn’s bizarre performance went viral during the Paris Olympics.
While Leah Clark sympathizes with Gunn, her focus is on her fellow “B-girls” who are harassed by trolls on social media and, in some cases, receive prank phone calls while at work.
“It really affected us. We’ve got a lot of B-girls crying about it,” said Clark, who runs a dance performance space in Brisbane.
‘How can I try to get our sponsorship and grant money for breakthrough programs (for a sport) that has been the subject of ridicule?
“And how are we going to represent our country in other world-class events when Australia has been made to look ridiculous?
Clark said she has also been attacked online and other B-girls have had to resort to making their social media accounts private to avoid the abuse.
He also claimed that the qualifying process for Paris was questionable and that many top competitors were unable to take part.
Reasons included a lack of notice from organisers before the Oceania qualifying event in Sydney last year and the fact the winner needed a valid passport to fly to Paris.
Australian dancer Leah Clark has revealed that several of the country’s top dancers have been victims of online harassment after Rachael ‘Raygun’ Gunn’s bizarre performance went viral during the Paris Olympics.
University professor Rachel Gunn competed in Paris and received no points from the judges, leading to her being ridiculed worldwide.
Adult passports in Australia cost just under $400 and the end result was a poor showing of women in the qualifying event.
Koh Yamada, a revered figure in the Australian dance community, pointed to citizenship as another obstacle that caused many of Australia’s top breaking talents to skip the Olympic qualifiers.
Yamada, a prolific winner of national street dance competitions in recent years, decided not to compete because he does not have Australian citizenship, only permanent residency.
“I also know there are a lot of B-girls in Australia who didn’t compete, and probably for similar reasons,” she said. The Guardian.
Meanwhile, mMarketing and public relations expert Max Markson said that while Gunn remains a controversial figure at home, some of the world’s biggest international companies will be eager to cash in on her high profile and she could end up a millionaire.
Below is her embarrassing performance, which included kangaroo hops, snake-like slithering, and the iconic Australian “sprinkler” move.
“He’s got a massive brand,” Markson told Daily Mail Australia.
‘Her reputation in Australia is not very good, but she is famous all over the world.
‘I don’t think everyone in other countries is aware of how Australians feel about her.
Marketing and PR expert Max Markson believes Gunn could end up a millionaire when sponsors come knocking after the Paris Olympics
Gunn’s out-of-character performance moves, like the one pictured above, dubbed “the kangaroo,” have caused a stir on the Internet.
‘I think Australian retailers will avoid it for that reason, but there will be someone in this country who will take advantage of it.
You will receive international offers from sports shoe brands such as Adidas or Puma, food companies such as McDonald’s or KFC, electric cars, and you will get a telephone company such as Telstra, Optus or Vodafone.
“There will be other international companies that will also want it.”
Markson added that the financial opportunities will be broader than those in big brand marketing.
“He has a PhD and genuine training (in breakdancing), so he will also have speaking engagements. He also has an appeal for children,” he said.
“People will want her on television, there will be work for her on television in the next six months.”
