Swimming Organization Moves to Halt False Statements Attributed to Star Swimmer Mollie O’Callaghan
The national swimming federation has taken steps to shut down what it calls “fabricated stories” and “false comments” linked to swimmer Mollie O’Callaghan regarding trans swimmer Lia Thomas.
Online Content Spread Inaccurate Statements
A statement linked to O’Callaghan but not posted from her online platforms has appeared in updates on Facebook, as well as on X, and implied the elite athlete would boycott in the 2028 Olympics if a transgender athlete is permitted to participate.
The statement wrongly credited to O’Callaghan included a provocative remark that “sharing a pool with Lia Thomas is really an insult and a embarrassment”.
Formal Statement from the Federation
The organization stood by the star swimmer in a statement headlined with “fabricated comments attributed to Australian team member Mollie O’Callaghan”.
“There are currently fabricated quotes linked to team member Mollie O’Callaghan circulating on online content,” the federation said recently.
“At no stage has O’Callaghan been interviewed and given remarks on trans swimmers.
“Meta has been informed of the fabricated stories, and O’Callaghan and the federation have requested the posts to be removed.”
Current Status and Background
Content that include the statement attributed to O’Callaghan were still visible on the platform on the following day, while a Meta spokesperson said that “we are reviewing the demand”.
The organization refused to give further comment.
United States trans swimmer Lia Thomas is barred from racing in the female category under current governing body regulations and was unable to challenge the rules in the lead up to the Olympic event.
World Aquatics put in place rules in 2022 which prohibit anyone who has undergone “any phase of male puberty” from the women’s division.
About Mollie O’Callaghan
O’Callaghan is a five-fold gold medal winner after outpacing compatriot Ariarne Titmus in the 200m freestyle final at the 2024 Paris Games along with contributing to several team victories.
The 21-year-old earned a freestyle world title to her accolades in Japan in recent months.
O’Callaghan was competing in a international short course meet in the United States over the weekend and defeated the opponents by nearly two seconds to take out the women’s 200m freestyle in a record time of 1:50.77.
