Controversial Olympian Rachael Gunn has made a public apology to the breakdancing community for backlash it has copped following her performance during the Paris Olympics.
Gunn, who goes by the stage name Raygun, became an overnight sensation with her unique take on breakdancing during the inaugural women’s competition at the Olympics last month.
The 37-year-old is set to discuss the viral moment that shot her to international infamy and more on the Channel 10 panel show The Project on Wednesday night.
A preview clip for the upcoming episode shows host Waleed Aly asking the athlete, ‘Do you genuinely think you are the best female breaker in Australia?’
Rachael falters and pauses before replying, ‘Well, I think my record speaks to that.’
Another clip, released on Wednesday morning, shows Gunn making an apology to the breaking community for flak it has received.
‘It is really sad to hear those criticisms,’ she says.
‘And I am very sorry for the backlash that the community has experienced, but I can’t control how people react.’
Rachael Gunn (pictured) says she’s very sorry for the backlash the breaking community has received after her performance
Gunn also goes on to detail what it was like being catapulted to international stardom and having TV cameras chasing her.
‘That was really wild,’ she says.
‘If people are chasing me, what do I do? But that really did put me in a state of panic.’
A TV insider has claimed fans could look forward to seeing the academic on at least one top rating reality show next year.
‘The future of one of the world’s most talked about Australians, Raygun, is currently being negotiated with multiple TV offers,’ the source told Yahoo Lifestyle.
According to the insider, the networks don’t want to ‘share’ Gunn.
‘They are looking for exclusive-network-deals that could be 12 to 24 months long, blocking out other opportunities from competing programming,’ they explained.
Describing Gunn as one of the most ‘sought after names’ in Australia right now, another source said that the competing networks could end up casting Gunn on a ‘celebrity’ reality show like SAS Australia or Dancing with the Stars.
Gunn says having TV cameras chasing her put her in a state of panic
Gunn, who goes by the stage name Raygun, became an overnight sensation with her unique take on breakdancing during the inaugural women’s competition at the Paris Olympics
They added: ‘A number of talent agents have been circling the viral superstar ever since her memorable dance at the Paris Olympics went viral. The exact direction she will take will be revealed any day now and whichever network she signs with will be quite telling.’
It comes after reports surfaced earlier this month that Dancing with the Stars bosses were desperate to sign Gunn for the upcoming season.
Raygun made headlines became a global meme at the Olympics because of her routine that included kangaroo hopping and rolling on the floor like a snake, along with her decision to wear the Australian tracksuit during her battles.
Speaking exclusively to DailyMail.com, an insider revealed they are keen to offer the sportswoman the opportunity to capitalize on her Olympics disaster and overhaul her image to no longer be the ‘laughingstock.’
They added that they believe Rachael is a ‘good fit’ and that they ‘would love to talk’ with her.
‘Dancing with the Stars has had its fair share of amazing dancers, awful dancers and just pop culture for years and Raygun is now one of their targets for the upcoming season.
Gunn appears to be headed for a career in television, with all three commercial networks reportedly trying to sign a deal with her
‘They are always on the lookout for people up until the last minute and always want to be on the pulse of what people are talking about.
‘That’s why they always go after Housewives, Bachelor franchise people, political names and this year Olympians and the Hawk Tuah girl.
‘If they think someone could provide the ratings then they’ll consider it.’
The source added: ‘People extend their fifteen minutes on Dancing with the Stars, and when it comes to Raygun, producers would love to talk to her and see if she would be a good fit for the upcoming season.
‘Dancing with the Stars loves being the show where people redeem themselves and this could be the perfect avenue for Rachael to not be a laughingstock anymore.
‘Dancing is going to make an offer.’
The exciting Dancing with the Stars development comes after a marketing expert predicted that Raygun is poised to earn millions from her newfound fame.
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