Australian breakdancer Rachael Gunn has said the backlash she has received since she competed at the Olympic Games in Paris has been devastating as she pleaded for privacy for her family and friends.

“I really appreciate the positivity, and I’m glad I was able to bring some joy into your lives. That’s what I hoped,” Ms Gunn, who is known as B-girl Raygun, said in an Instagram post.

“I didn’t realise that that would also open the door to so much hate which has, frankly, been pretty devastating.”

The 36-year-old university lecturer was attacked online and in mainstream media after she lost all three of her round robin battles in Paris, where breaking made its Olympic debut.

“Well, I went out there and I had fun – I did take it very seriously. I worked my butt off preparing for the Olympics and I gave my all. Truly,” Ms Gunn said.

The Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) has condemned an online petition calling for an investigation into her selection for the games, saying it contained falsehoods aimed at inciting hatred against her.

AOC Chief Executive Matt Carroll said the petition had “stirred up public hatred without any factual basis”, adding that it was “vexatious, misleading and bullying”.

Mr Carroll’s statement also said Ms Gunn had been “selected through a transparent and independent qualification event and nomination process”.

“No athlete who has represented their country at the Olympic Games should be treated in this way,” he added.

Ms Gunn asked for privacy, saying: “I’d really like to ask the press to please stop harassing my family, my friends, the Australian breaking community and the broader street dance community.

“Everyone has been through a lot as a result of this, so I ask you to please respect their privacy.”

She said she would take a few weeks of previously planned holiday in Europe and would answer any more questions on her return to Australia.

The change.org petition calling for Ms Gunn and Australia’s Olympic Chef de Mission Anna Meares to apologise has collected more than 54,000 signatures.

“The AOC is particularly offended by the affront to our Chef de Mission, Anna Meares,” Mr Carroll said.

“(She) played no role in the qualification events, nor the nomination of athletes to the AOC Selection Committee, of which the chef and I are members.”

The AOC have written to the organisation asking for the petition to be removed.

Breaking is not on the sports programme for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.