Swimming Organization Takes Action to Stop False Statements Attributed to Star Athlete Mollie O’Callaghan
The national swimming federation has moved to stop what it calls “fake news” and “made-up statements” attributed to swimmer Mollie O’Callaghan about transgender athlete Lia Thomas.
Online Posts Circulate Fake Claims
Remarks credited to O’Callaghan but not posted from her social media accounts has appeared in updates on Facebook, as well as on Twitter, and suggested the swimming star would refuse to compete in the Los Angeles Olympics if a transgender athlete is allowed to compete.
These words falsely attributed to O’Callaghan contained a provocative comment that “sharing a pool with Lia Thomas is truly an affront and a disgrace”.
Official Statement from the Federation
The national body supported the gold medalist in a release labeled with “fabricated comments associated with Australian team member Mollie O’Callaghan”.
“Currently, we see fabricated quotes linked to team member Mollie O’Callaghan appearing on social media posts,” the organization announced this past Sunday.
“Never has O’Callaghan spoken to media and made statements on trans swimmers.
“Meta has been advised of the false information, and O’Callaghan and Swimming Australia have demanded the content to be removed.”
Latest Developments and Context
Content that include the statement credited to O’Callaghan were still circulating on Facebook on the following day, while a Meta spokesperson said that “we are looking into the request”.
The organization refused to give additional statements.
American trans swimmer Lia Thomas is banned from competing in the women’s division under current World Aquatics regulations and failed to overturn the policies in the run-up to the Olympic event.
The governing body put in place guidelines in 2022 which forbid anyone who has undergone “any phase of male puberty” from the women’s competition.
Regarding Mollie O’Callaghan
O’Callaghan is a multiple champion after defeating teammate Ariarne Titmus in the 200m freestyle championship race at the 2024 Paris Games along with being part of four winning relays.
The young champion earned a 200m freestyle world championship crown to her accolades in Tokyo in the summer.
O’Callaghan was participating in a international short course meet in Indiana over the weekend and beat the opponents by a significant margin to take out the freestyle race in a Commonwealth record of one minute 50.77 seconds.
