Swimming Organization Moves to Suppress False Quotes Attributed to Star Athlete Mollie O’Callaghan

Swimming Australia has moved to stop labeled as “fake news” and “made-up statements” linked to swimmer Mollie O’Callaghan about transgender athlete Lia Thomas.

Social Media Posts Circulate False Claims

A comment attributed to O’Callaghan but not posted from her official profiles has appeared in posts on the social media site Facebook, as well as on Twitter, and suggested the elite athlete would not participate in the Los Angeles Olympics if a transgender swimmer is cleared to compete.

These words wrongly credited to O’Callaghan included a inflammatory comment that “sharing a pool with Lia Thomas is truly an disgrace and a embarrassment”.

Formal Statement from Swimming Australia

Swimming Australia supported the Olympic champion in a release headlined with “fake quotes associated with Dolphin Mollie O’Callaghan”.

“There are currently fabricated quotes credited to team member Mollie O’Callaghan appearing on platform posts,” the organization said this past Sunday.

“Not at any point has O’Callaghan given an interview and made statements on this issue.

“Facebook’s parent company has been advised of the fake news, and O’Callaghan and Swimming Australia have requested the items to be taken down.”

Latest Developments and Context

Posts that include the quote linked to O’Callaghan were still circulating on the platform on Monday, while a company representative commented that “we are looking into the request”.

The federation refused to give additional statements.

United States trans swimmer Lia Thomas is prohibited from competing in the women’s events under current governing body regulations and could not change the rules in the lead up to the Olympic event.

The governing body introduced regulations in 2022 which prohibit anyone who has experienced “any part of puberty as a male” from the women’s competition.

About Mollie O’Callaghan

O’Callaghan is a five-time champion after beating teammate Ariarne Titmus in the freestyle event final at the recent Olympics along with contributing to four winning relays.

O’Callaghan earned a 200-meter freestyle world championship crown to her honours in Tokyo in July this year.

O’Callaghan was participating in a short course event in the United States last weekend and outpaced the competitors by a significant margin to win the women’s 200m freestyle in a record time of one minute 50.77 seconds.