Australian Swimming Federation Takes Action to Suppress False Comments Attributed to Star Athlete Mollie O’Callaghan
The national swimming federation has taken steps to stop described as “false information” and “fabricated quotes” linked to Olympic champion Mollie O’Callaghan regarding trans swimmer Lia Thomas.
Social Media Content Circulate False Statements
A comment credited to O’Callaghan but not posted from her online platforms has surfaced in content on Meta platform Facebook, as well as on the platform X, and suggested the elite athlete would refuse to compete in the 2028 LA Games if a transgender swimmer is permitted to race.
These words falsely attributed to O’Callaghan contained a provocative remark that “being in the same lane with Lia Thomas is truly an affront and a shame”.
Official Statement from the Federation
The organization stood by the Olympic champion in a statement titled with “false statements linked to Dolphin Mollie O’Callaghan”.
“There are currently false statements credited to Dolphin Mollie O’Callaghan seen on online content,” the federation said recently.
“At no stage has O’Callaghan given an interview and made statements on this issue.
“The platform has been informed of the false information, and O’Callaghan and Swimming Australia have asked the content to be removed.”
Latest Developments and Background
Posts that include the quote credited to O’Callaghan were still online on Facebook on the following day, while a company representative said that “we are reviewing the demand”.
The federation did not offer more details.
American trans swimmer Lia Thomas is prohibited from participating in the women’s events under current international swimming rules and failed to overturn the rules in the run-up to the recent Games.
The governing body put in place rules in 2022 which ban anyone who has gone through “any part of puberty as a male” from the women’s competition.
About Mollie O’Callaghan
O’Callaghan is a five-fold gold medal winner after beating compatriot Ariarne Titmus in the freestyle event championship race at the recent Olympics along with participating in several team victories.
The young champion secured a 200-meter freestyle world championship crown to her accolades in Japan in the summer.
O’Callaghan was racing in a short course competition in the United States over the weekend and defeated the opponents by a significant margin to win the women’s 200m freestyle in a record time of a record time.