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Australian breaker Rachael Gunn has told a Sydney radio station she is considering retiring from competition.

It’s only been three months since her unconventional routine at the Paris Olympics was ridiculed and gave rise to conspiracy theories about how she qualified for the Games.

The 37-year-old University of Sydney professor failed to make the scoreboard in her three competitive events in August, with a routine that included unorthodox moves like a jump kangaroo.

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Gunn had initially planned to continue competing, but she said the experience was so “upsetting” that she changed her mind.

“I just had no control over how people saw me or who I was,” she told radio station 2DayFM. “I was going to continue to compete, for sure, but it seems really hard to do now. I think the level of scrutiny will be there, and people will film it, and it will be posted online.

Breaking was contested for the first time at the Olympic Games. And it could be a unique event, not included in the Olympic program for Los Angeles in 2028 or Brisbane, Australia, in 2032.

In a television interview for The Project on Australia’s Channel 10 in September, “Raygun”, as she was known, described being chased by cameras through the streets of Paris.

“It was really wild,” she said. “If people chase me, what should I do? This really put me in a state of panic. I was nervous about being in public. It was pretty scary for a while.

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She apologized for the commotion, but again defended her performance and said she was grateful for the support from others in the sport.

She has already defended her qualification for Paris and reiterated it on the TV show.

“I won the Oceania championships. It was a direct qualifier,” Gunn said. “There were nine judges, all from abroad. I knew my chances were slim as soon as I qualified for the Olympics.

“People didn’t understand the break and were just angry at my performance,” she added. “The conspiracy theories were just horrible and it was really upsetting. People are now attacking our reputation and integrity – none of which are based on fact. »

Gunn’s performance was mocked online and on television, including on Jimmy Fallon’s late-night talk show.

In her Sydney radio interview on Wednesday, Gunn said she wouldn’t stop breaking up completely.

“I still dance and I still break.” she said. “But it’s like in my living room with my partner.”

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