Swimming Body Takes Action to Suppress False Statements Linked to Star Swimmer Mollie O’Callaghan
The national swimming federation has taken steps to suppress what it calls “false information” and “false comments” associated with Olympic champion Mollie O’Callaghan regarding trans swimmer Lia Thomas.
Social Media Content Circulate Fake Claims
Remarks credited to O’Callaghan but not published from her online platforms has appeared in posts on the social media site Facebook, as well as on Twitter, and claimed the elite athlete would boycott in the 2028 LA Games if a transgender swimmer is permitted to compete.
The quote falsely attributed to O’Callaghan contained a controversial remark that “sharing a pool with Lia Thomas is really an insult and a embarrassment”.
Official Response from Swimming Australia
The national body stood by the Olympic champion in a statement titled with “fabricated comments linked to Dolphin Mollie O’Callaghan”.
“Currently, we see made-up comments linked to Dolphin Mollie O’Callaghan appearing on social media posts,” the organization stated on Sunday.
“At no stage has O’Callaghan given an interview and given remarks on transgender athletes.
“Facebook’s parent company has been notified of the fabricated stories, and O’Callaghan and Swimming Australia have demanded the items to be deleted.”
Latest Developments and Background
Updates that feature the statement attributed to O’Callaghan were still circulating on the platform on Monday, while a Meta spokesperson stated that “we are investigating the request”.
Swimming Australia did not offer further comment.
United States trans swimmer Lia Thomas is prohibited from participating in the women’s division under present international swimming rules and was unable to challenge the rules in the run-up to the Olympic event.
The governing body enacted regulations in recent years which ban anyone who has undergone “any phase of male puberty” from the female category.
About Mollie O’Callaghan
O’Callaghan is a five-time champion after beating compatriot Ariarne Titmus in the freestyle event championship race at the Paris event along with being part of four winning relays.
The 21-year-old secured a 200-meter freestyle global championship to her accolades in Japan in recent months.
O’Callaghan was participating in a World Cup short course meet in Indiana last weekend and defeated the field by almost two seconds to take out the women’s 200m freestyle in a record time of 1:50.77.
