Australian Swimming Body Acts to Suppress Fake Statements Attributed to Champion Swimmer Mollie O’Callaghan
Swimming Australia has taken steps to suppress described as “fabricated stories” and “fabricated quotes” linked to swimmer Mollie O’Callaghan regarding transgender athlete Lia Thomas.
Social Media Posts Circulate Fake Statements
A comment linked to O’Callaghan but not published from her online platforms has surfaced in content on the social media site Facebook, as well as on Twitter, and claimed the Olympic champion would not participate in the 2028 LA Games if a trans athlete is cleared to race.
These words incorrectly linked to O’Callaghan contained a provocative statement that “sharing a pool with Lia Thomas is really an insult and a shame”.
Official Response from the Federation
The national body stood by the Olympic champion in a announcement labeled with “fake quotes associated with Australian team member Mollie O’Callaghan”.
“There are currently made-up comments linked to team member Mollie O’Callaghan appearing on platform posts,” Swimming Australia stated this past Sunday.
“Never has O’Callaghan given an interview and made statements on this issue.
“Facebook’s parent company has been notified of the fake news, and O’Callaghan and the federation have asked the posts to be deleted.”
Current Status and Background
Posts that include the comment linked to O’Callaghan were still visible on the platform on Monday, while a company representative stated that “we are looking into the request”.
The organization did not offer more details.
American transgender athlete Lia Thomas is prohibited from participating in the women’s division under existing international swimming guidelines and failed to overturn the regulations in the period before the Paris Olympics.
The governing body enacted rules in 2022 which prohibit anyone who has undergone “any phase of male development” from the women’s division.
Regarding Mollie O’Callaghan
O’Callaghan is a five-fold gold medal winner after beating compatriot Ariarne Titmus in the 200-meter freestyle championship race at the Paris event along with being part of four relay team triumphs.
O’Callaghan secured a 200-meter freestyle global championship to her accolades in Tokyo in the summer.
O’Callaghan was racing in a World Cup event in the United States recently and defeated the opponents by almost two seconds to take out the freestyle race in a new best of a record time.
