Swimmer Emma McKeon will be allowed to attend the Rio closing ceremony after successfully contesting the decision to ban her, Australian Olympic Committee chef de mission Kitty Chiller has confirmed.

McKeon – Australia’s most successful Olympian in Rio – was tipped to be Australia’s flag bearer at the Games finale after winning four medals in the pool.

But the 22-year-old was banned from the event after failing to notify team officials that she would not be returning to the Olympic Village following a night of partying earlier this week.

She and fellow swimmer Josh Palmer were both sanctioned for failing to return to official team accommodation, but an e-petition, started by two-time Olympic gold medal swimmer Melanie Wright (nee Schlanger), called for McKeon’s ban to be revoked.

The petition quickly gathered over 17,000 signatures and on Saturday morning (AEST), Chiller confirmed that the decision had been overturned.

Chiller said, as reported by the ABC, that McKeon is now allowed to attend an official team dinner on Saturday (local time) and participate in the closing ceremony, after she wrote a letter that stated she understood AOC protocols.

Chiller – who denied the suggestion her decision was pressured by opinion – said McKeon now understands the potential consequences her decision could have had.

“Rio is a very different city to Melbourne, Sydney or Brisbane,” Chiller said.

“It is a dangerous city and that night could’ve ended in tragedy for Emma.”

McKeon speaks at a press conference. Photo: Getty

The petition pleading for McKeon to be allowed to attend the closing ceremony read: “Emma McKeon made a simple mistake in not texting team management her whereabouts after being separated from her teammates.

“She opted not to travel back to the Olympic Village alone, as per AOC safety protocol, and instead stayed with female swimming friends overnight.

“Emma should receive a sanction for failing to inform team management but a ban from the closing ceremony is too harsh.

“Please help to rectify this knee jerk overreaction.”

McKeon won gold in the women’s 4x100m freestyle relay and added two silver medals in the women’s 4x100m medley relay and the women’s 4x200m freestyle relay.

She also won bronze in the women’s 200m freestyle event.