“I just want to start by thanking all the people who have supported me. I really appreciate the positivity and I’m glad I was able to bring some joy into your lives. That’s what I hoped,” Gunn said in a self-shot video posted on Instagram.
“I didn’t realise that that would also open the door to so much hate, which has frankly been pretty devastating.
“While I went out there and I had fun, I did take it very seriously. I worked my butt off preparing for the Olympics. I gave my all — truly.”
“I’m honoured to have been a part of the Australian Olympic team and to be part of breaking’s [breakdancing’s] Olympic debut.”
Criticism of dancer is ‘bullying’
The Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) on Thursday condemned an online petition that called for an investigation into Gunn’s selection, saying it contained falsehoods aimed at inciting hatred against her.
The petition on Change.org, which calls for an apology from Gunn as well as Australia’s Olympic chef de mission Anna Meares, had over 45,000 signatures by Thursday morning but was taken down the same day.
The AOC had written to Change.org demanding it take down the petition immediately, Carroll added.
The petition has since had a banner added which reads: “This petition is under review by moderators who enforce our community guidelines.
“We have received flags from our users that the facts in this petition may be contested. You should consider researching this issue before signing.”