The Project panellists have come to the defence of an Australian breakdancer who made headlines for all the wrong reasons at the Olympics.
Sydney university lecturer Rachael Gunn, 36, also known as Raygun, failed to score a point in any of her three bouts as breaking made its debut as an Olympic sport in Paris on Friday.
Since then, Gunn has come under fire from armchair critics and keyboard warriors alike, not only for his performance, but also for his appearances on social media and in some mainstream outlets.
The backlash has since led to Australian Olympic chef de mission Anna Meares and subsequently Prime Minister Anthony Albanese expressing their support for Raygun.
The Raygun controversy continues to dominate headlines, eclipsing Australia’s best ever Olympic record of more than 50 medals, including 18 gold.
The Project host Sarah Harris and panellist Rachel Corbett were disappointed the backlash overshadowed Australia’s “amazing” Olympics and praised Gunn for getting out and having fun.
“Everyone is talking about Raygun and all I can say right now is that I am so supportive of this woman,” Corbett said on Sunday night’s show.
‘If you think she wasn’t qualified to be there, she wasn’t just pulled off the street, she had to win a championship to get there.’
Australian breakdancer Rachael Gunn, 36, also known as Raygun, has dominated headlines and online backlash for her Olympic debut.
The Project hosts Hamish MacDonald and Sarah Harris weighed in on the Raygun controversy on Sunday night
‘He got zeros, okay, he turned in a bad score, but he went out and gave it a real push.
“It seemed like he was dying of love.
‘It would really suck to walk out of that international stage and have people sitting in their living room, not wearing an Olympic uniform, saying, ‘Oh, what an idiot!’
‘She went out and tried it!’
Fellow panelist Sarah Harris praised Raygun for being proud to wear her Olympic uniform, which Corbett admitted “gave off PE teacher vibes.”
“Other people were wearing baggy jeans and modern shoes,” Harris said.
‘It’s not their fault they designed an Australian golf uniform.
“She just came out and tried to dance with him.”
Project panelist Rachel Corbett (pictured) praised Raygun for “having a chance”
Hamish Macdonald questioned whether the saga had been exaggerated.
“What do you think?” Corbett replied sarcastically.
Macdonald agreed: “There was a vision of a journalist chasing her down the street as if she had just left court.”
Harris admitted that Raygun’s kangaroo-hopping moves were “a bit odd”
“It was iconic,” Corbett said.
Michael Hing joked: “That’s going to become the new Nutbush.”
Earlier on Sunday, Mr Albanese also praised Gunn for coming out and putting in the effort.
“Well done to her and a big credit to her. It’s an Australian tradition that people put in the effort. She’s put in the effort to represent our country and that’s a good thing,” Albanese said.
“The Olympic Games are about getting people involved in sport,” the Prime Minister said.
The Project panellists also praised the breakdancer for proudly wearing the Australian uniform, “giving off PE teacher vibes”.
‘That’s a good thing and Raygun had the opportunity.
“All we ask is that the athletes have won gold medals or have done their best. What really matters is participation.”
Six-time Olympic cycling medallist and chef de mission from Australia Anna Meares also defended Raygun, stressing that the breakdancer had struggled to make her way in the sport.
“Raygun is an absolutely beloved member of this Olympic team,” Ms Meares said.
‘She has represented the Olympic team, the Olympic spirit, with great enthusiasm.
“I love her bravery. I love her character and I feel very disappointed for her, for having been the target of the attacks that she has suffered.”
“In 2008, she was locked in a room crying, participating in a male-dominated sport as the only woman,” Meares said.
