Niamh Shackleton
A top breakdancing coach has spoken out following Australia's controversial decision to have Raygun represent the country.
This year's Olympic Games wrapped up on Sunday (August 11), but people are still talking about some of the events that unfolded in Paris.
One topic that's been widely discussed is Aussie breakdancer Raygun's performance where she received a score of zero from the judges.
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The video of her routine has since gone viral online and not all comments have been kind.
With this in mind, Raygun herself (real name Rachael Gunn) has spoken out on the 'devastating' trolling she's received.
She said in an Instagram video: "I really appreciate the positivity and I'm glad I was able to bring some joy into your lives, that's what I hoped."
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Raygun continued: "I didn't realize that would also open the door to so much hate, which has frankly been pretty devastating. But I went out there and had fun."
As to how Raygun landed her spot in the Olympics, she won the 2023 Oceania Breaking Championships, beating fellow finalist Molly Chapman.
Now Liam Masters, a breakdancing expert who coached Raygun's teammate Jeff 'J-Attack' Dunne, has suggested some alterations be made to the qualifiers.
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"Raygun entered the Oceania qualifier that was held in Sydney about 10 months ago," he explained in an Instagram post.
"She entered that and she won it. The prize for winning that was that she got a spot in the Olympics.
"What I think may be needed is they need to introduce a qualifying score or a benchmark that's needed - and the judges' approval that that's the level that is required for the international events, such as the Olympics."
Masters continued: "If they don't reach the benchmark, or the score is not there, then they are given the opportunity to represent in one of the other qualifiers that may be held, to improve their score and to prove that they are worthy of a spot in the top 16 at the Olympics."
Further on in the video he called on the likes of the World Dance Sport Federation (WDSF) to support Raygun amid the ongoing trolling she's receiving and voiced his own support for the 36-year-old dancer.
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It's believed that the Australian Olympic team brought in a safe-guarding officer for Raygun to support her during the Games after her performance.
Sergey Nifontov, general secretary of the WDSF, said at the time: "We are aware about what has happened, especially on social media, and definitely we should put the safety of the athlete, in this case, mental safety in first place. She has us as a federation supporting her."
It's unclear if Raygun is receiving any support now the Games have ended however.
UNILAD has approached the WDSF for further comment.