Australian Swimming Organization Takes Action to Stop Fabricated Comments Linked to Star Athlete Mollie O’Callaghan
Swimming Australia has acted to suppress what it calls “fabricated stories” and “false comments” attributed to Olympic champion Mollie O’Callaghan regarding trans swimmer Lia Thomas.
Social Media Content Spread Fake Statements
Remarks credited to O’Callaghan but not posted from her online platforms has appeared in updates on Meta platform Facebook, as well as on X, and claimed the Olympic champion would not participate in the Los Angeles Olympics if a transgender swimmer is allowed to participate.
The quote incorrectly linked to O’Callaghan included a inflammatory comment that “competing in the same pool with Lia Thomas is absolutely an affront and a disgrace”.
Official Response from Swimming Australia
Swimming Australia stood by the Olympic champion in a release labeled with “false statements attributed to Australian team member Mollie O’Callaghan”.
“Currently, we see made-up comments attributed to team member Mollie O’Callaghan seen on online content,” the federation stated recently.
“Not at any point has O’Callaghan been interviewed and made statements on trans swimmers.
“Meta has been notified of the false information, and O’Callaghan and the federation have asked the items to be removed.”
Current Status and Background
Content that feature the statement linked to O’Callaghan were still visible on the platform on Monday, while a Meta spokesperson commented that “we are looking into the request”.
The organization refused to give additional statements.
United States trans swimmer Lia Thomas is prohibited from competing in the female category under current governing body regulations and was unable to challenge the policies in the run-up to the Paris Olympics.
The international federation enacted guidelines in 2022 which prohibit anyone who has gone through “any part of male puberty” from the female category.
Regarding Mollie O’Callaghan
O’Callaghan is a five-time Olympic gold medallist after outpacing fellow Australian Ariarne Titmus in the freestyle event final at the recent Olympics along with participating in several team victories.
O’Callaghan earned a freestyle world title to her achievements in Japan in July this year.
O’Callaghan was participating in a World Cup competition in the United States over the weekend and outpaced the competitors by almost two seconds to win the women’s 200m freestyle in a new best of 1:50.77.
