Controversial breaker Raygun doesn’t arrive home with her Olympic teammates who have slammed her critics

While the majority of Australia’s Olympians made their triumphant return home on Wednesday morning, Rachael “Raygun” Gunn was a noticeable absentee, with several high-profile athletes hitting out at her critics and praising her for living out the “Australian spirit” on the biggest stage.

Raygun has attracted international headlines after her breaking performance went viral for its unique moves that didn’t receive any points from the judges in Paris.

Her performance has received mixed reviews and plenty of hate online, while superstar singer Adele has referenced it and comedian Jimmy Fallon joined in on a sketch on his show that paid tribute to Raygun’s moves.

Aussie athletes were well aware of the abuse being hurled towards their countrywoman and rallied around her at the end of the Games to make sure she felt their love and support with the Australian Olympic Committee also offering ongoing support services to the 36-year-old.

“She came in for the closing ceremony, and the whole team got around her,” gold medal swimmer Cam McEvoy said.

“I think that’s good because it was in contrast to what she was receiving on social media and world media.

“I couldn’t imagine myself in that position because it would have been so tough. It’s just good to see the team get around her.”

Dual gold medallists Jess Fox spoke to Gunn about the fallout and said it was “devastating for her” and that the breaker “doesn’t deserve that.

“To see the toll ... she is human and it is massive what she has been through over the last week,” Fox said.

“She has definitely been feeling it. There is a human behind all that, and people are so quick to be awful. She doesn’t deserve that.”

Boxer Harry Garside praised Raygun for having a go in a new sport at the Olympics and hit out at armchair critics trolled athletes throughout the Games.

“She showed the Australian spirit which is to go out there and give it a crack,” he said.

“She’s such a superstar, and I think the whole of the Australian team is getting around her now.

“There are so many people in this world who just critique, critique, critique, but they’re the ones that aren’t in the arena. Raygun and us Olympians are in the arena and having a crack, and that’s the Australian spirit.”

Garside is happy to be back home after his shock early exit in Paris having ended Australia’s boxing drought in Tokyo when he won bronze.

He’s unsure what his plans are going forward, with Garside hoping to come back to reality after an emotional fortnight abroad where he apologised to Australians after his fight and said “I feel like a failure” in a raw interview after the bout.

“I feel very numb. I’m on a dopamine chaser right now trying to feel something,” he said back in Sydney.

“I have been numb since I fought, so it’s amazing to walk into this and see how much love there is back home.

“I’ve been off my phone a fair bit since I fought, so I’ve got to decompress now and see what’s next.

“I’m going to take some time off and see my nephew and then think about what’s next.”