Rachael Gunn: How Raygun’s shocker made life hell for another Aussie breakdancer at the Paris Olympics

The coach of Australia’s male breakdancer at the Paris Olympics believes Raygun’s heavily criticised performance heaped unnecessary pressure on his teenage star.

Jeff Dunne’s coach Liam Masters took to Instagram this week to confirm the young gun was distracted after footage of compatriot Rachael Gunn went viral for all the wrong reasons. 

‘On Saturday [before competing], Jeff woke up and his phone was flooded….hundreds and hundreds of messages with the videos, the memes, the jokes, the trolling, the articles [about Gunn],’ he posted in a reel.

‘The amount of pressure that created for Jeff on the day was ridiculous….he knew everyone was waiting to see if he was going to deliver or not.

‘I really hope that the Australian media can get behind Jeff for his awesome achievement with what he did for his age and what he’s overcome.

‘It’s such an achievement to be 16 years of age and overcome the buckling pressure that the whole world was watching.’

Dunne, who competes under the name J-Attack, was eliminated after lining up against Ukrainian star ‘Kuzya’ in the first round.

Masters also posted his belief that Gunn is a victim of bullying online.

Jeff Dunne’s coach Liam Masters took to Instagram this week to confirm the young gun was distracted after footage of compatriot Rachael Gunn went viral for all the wrong reasons

Jeff Dunne, 16, who competes under the name J-Attack, was eliminated after lining up against Ukrainian star ‘Kuzya’ in the first round 

‘It needs to stop, it is pathetic,’ he said. ‘Raygun is a human being and she doesn’t deserve any of this.

‘I really hope that the Australian Breaking Committee, WDSF [World Dance Sport Federation] Australia and the Australian Olympic Committee are going to be there to support her 100%.’

Meanwhile, champion Aussie canoeist Jessica Fox, who won two gold medals in Paris, revealed the relentless criticism has taken a ‘devastating’ toll on Gunn.

‘I did speak to her, it is devastating for her,’ she said.

‘To see the toll … it is massive what she has been through. She has definitely been feeling it.

‘People are so quick to be awful. She doesn’t deserve that.’

Other Aussie Olympians have also been vocal in their support for Gunn, including swimmer Zac Stubblety-Cook.

He described the ongoing criticism as ‘disappointing’ and said it was ‘bloody awesome’ to see Gunn smiling during the closing ceremony in Paris.