Palfrey's comments triggered a fierce reaction from team officials and the Australian Olympic Committee.
Lin clinched gold in the women's boxing final match on Sunday, an emotional win that came as she and Algerian boxer Imane Khelif have been embroiled in a major row over their gender eligibility.
Tennis was introduced to China in the 1860s, but it failed to gain mass appeal and was largely an elite sport reserved for the wealthiest families.
The Australian Olympic Committee has decried a "misleading and bullying" online petition that described Gunn's performance as "unethical" and questioned how she was chosen for Paris.
The athletes, fresh from a national record 53 Olympic medal trawl, were asked about absent colleague b-girl Rachael "Raygun" Gunn.
Khelif was the centre of a gender controversy at the Olympics on her way to the women's 66kg title.
Jamaica were in third spot after the opening leg, but Andrenette Knight dropped the baton after bumping Ireland's Rhasidat Adeleke on the second leg.
The USA's dream team of NBA superstars held off France 98-87 to take their tally of men's Olympic basketball golds to 17.
China claimed their fifth gold from five competitions at the Games.
Jamaica were in third spot after the opening leg, but Andrenette Knight dropped the baton after bumping Ireland's Rhasidat Adeleke on the second leg.
The USA's dream team of NBA superstars held off France 98-87 to take their tally of men's Olympic basketball golds to 17.
China claimed their fifth gold from five competitions at the Games.
Rasovszky timed 1hr 50min 52.7sec to finish 2.1sec ahead of Germany's Oliver Klemet in the race on the River Seine.
Tebogo triumphed over U.S. sprinters Kenny Bednarek and Noah Lyles to claim Africa's first 200m title and become the fifth-fastest man in history over the distance.
Davis-Woodhall, who was sixth at the Tokyo Olympics, tasted global victory for the first time when she won the world indoor title in March.
Andrade clinched the last gymnastics gold medal at the Paris Olympics on Monday, and captivated the minds and hearts of football-obsessed Brazil.
Lyles finished in third place in the 200m on Thursday, dashing his hopes of a sprint double.
The 26-year-old pipped Britain's Matthew Hudson-Smith.
Tebogo, also a finalist in the 100m, struck a psychological blow to Lyles, crossing the line in 19.96sec, while Lyles timed 20.08sec.
