“I want to start by saying thank you to everyone who has supported me. I really appreciate the positivity and I'm glad I could bring some joy into your lives. That's what I hoped,” Gunn said in a self-made video posted to Instagram.
“I didn't realize that this would also open the door to so much hate, which has honestly been quite devastating.
“Even though I went there and had fun, I took it very seriously. I worked really hard to prepare for the Olympics. I gave it my all — I really did.”
“I feel honoured to have been part of the Australian Olympic team and to be part of break [breakdancing’s] Olympic debut.”
Criticism of dancer is 'bullying'
The Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) on Thursday condemned an online petition calling for an investigation into Gunn's selection, saying it contained lies intended to incite hatred against her.
The Change.org petition calling for an apology from Gunn and Anna Meares, Australia's Olympic chef de mission, had garnered more than 45,000 signatures as of Thursday morning.
AOC has written a letter to Change.org requesting that the petition be removed immediately, Carroll said.
A banner has now been added to the petition with the text: 'This petition is being reviewed by moderators who enforce our community guidelines.
“We have received signals from our users that the facts in this petition may be disputed. You should consider researching this issue before signing.”