Editor’s Note

WORDS: Brian Usher PHOTOGRAPHY Ocean Road Magazine

I’m guessing I am not on my own when I say how impressive our Australian Athletes did in Paris and in particular, how well our Gold Coast Athletes did, winning 8 out of the 18 Australian Gold Medals…not to mention the silver and bronze medals that we scooped up as well. 

In this edition we have paid tribute to our amazing Gold Coast Athletes, “the Magnificent 7” – Arisa Trew, Keegan Palmer, Saya Sakakibara, Cameron McEvoy, Emma McKeon, Kaylee McKeown & Lani Pallister. All Gold Medal winners who call the Gold Coast Home. World beaters every one of them. For such a small population the Gold Coast, and Australia for that matter punches way above its weight class in the Olympic stakes. Something we can all be proud of as Australians. Unfortunately, there was one event that seemed to steal the limelight for all the wrong reasons. Breakdancing.  

Apart from the fact that I struggle to see Breakdancing as a true Olympic sport, the international press and publicity around Rachael “Raygun” Gunn had me somewhat embarrassed. Initially, I thought it was a practical joke. I mean, I know what good Breakdancing looks like and this was certainly not that. All I could see was all the hard work done by all the athletes being unceremoniously flushed down the toilet as we became a laughingstock around the world. Australia had become famous for all the wrong reasons.

Now I am all for people “Having a Go” so to speak, and well done to ‘Raygun’ for having a crack on the world stage but my question is how in the name of the almighty is Rachel Gunn the best Australia has to offer as a female Breakdancer? Did no one else enter? Was the qualifying event held on Flinders Island at 3am in the morning? It just beggars belief. Surely those responsible for the selection were on the take, on drugs or worse still someone’s niece or cousin or WIFE. Ahhh don’t you love nepotism!!  

You would think heads would have to roll over this one, but I bet they don’t. Good on Raygun for having a crack but at what price? The internet and social media blew up with a never-ending rollout of mems taking the piss out of the Raygun performance around the world. Funny yes, good for our reputation, possibly not. But then again maybe it’s the greatest publicity campaign Australia has ever run at no charge. I hope Raygun has got herself an agent. I’m sure the offers are rolling in $$$$.  

You couldn’t make this up if you tried!!

Visit: www.oceanroadmagazine.com.au