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Swimming Australia has taken steps to suppress described as “fake news” and “false comments” linked to swimmer Mollie O’Callaghan about transgender athlete Lia Thomas.

Social Media Posts Circulate Fake Statements

Remarks attributed to O’Callaghan but not published from her official profiles has surfaced in posts on the social media site Facebook, as well as on X, and suggested the Olympic champion would boycott in the 2028 LA Games if a trans athlete is cleared to race.

The statement incorrectly linked to O’Callaghan featured a inflammatory statement that “sharing a pool with Lia Thomas is really an affront and a disgrace”.

Formal Response from Swimming Australia

Swimming Australia stood by the star swimmer in a statement titled with “fabricated comments associated with Australian team member Mollie O’Callaghan”.

“There are currently false statements linked to team member Mollie O’Callaghan appearing on platform posts,” the organization stated this past Sunday.

“Not at any point has O’Callaghan given an interview and provided commentary on transgender athletes.

“The platform has been informed of the fake news, and O’Callaghan and the federation have demanded the content to be removed.”

Latest Developments and Background

Updates that feature the comment attributed to O’Callaghan were still online on the platform on the following day, while a platform official commented that “we are looking into the request”.

The organization did not offer more details.

American trans swimmer Lia Thomas is prohibited from competing in the women’s events under current World Aquatics rules and could not change the rules in the lead up to the Olympic event.

World Aquatics introduced regulations in recent years which ban anyone who has experienced “any part of puberty as a male” from the women’s competition.

Regarding Mollie O’Callaghan

O’Callaghan is a five-time gold medal winner after beating teammate Ariarne Titmus in the 200-meter freestyle final at the recent Olympics along with contributing to several team victories.

O’Callaghan secured a freestyle world title to her achievements in Japan in July this year.

O’Callaghan was participating in a short course event in the United States last weekend and defeated the field by almost two seconds to win the women’s 200m freestyle in a Commonwealth record of a record time.