Swimming Australia Addresses False Quotes Attributed to Mollie O’Callaghan on Transgender Athlete

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Swimming Australia Addresses False Quotes Attributed to Mollie O’Callaghan on Transgender Athlete

Swimming Australia has taken significant steps to combat misinformation regarding swimmer Mollie O’Callaghan and transgender athlete Lia Thomas. Recently, false quotes attributed to O’Callaghan surfaced on social media, claiming she would withdraw from the upcoming 2028 Los Angeles Olympics if Thomas was allowed to compete. These assertions, calling sharing a pool with Thomas an “insult and a disgrace,” were neither sourced from O’Callaghan’s social media nor confirmed by her.

Swimming Australia’s Response to Misinformation

In a statement issued on Sunday, Swimming Australia emphasized the unauthentic nature of the quotes. They stated, “There are currently fabricated quotes attributed to Dolphin Mollie O’Callaghan appearing on social media posts.” The organization clarified that O’Callaghan has not provided commentary on transgender athletes and urged social media platforms to remove the false posts.

O’Callaghan’s Achievements

Mollie O’Callaghan is a distinguished swimmer, boasting five Olympic gold medals. At the recent 2024 Paris Games, she triumphed in the women’s 200m freestyle, beating fellow Australian Ariarne Titmus. This performance was part of four relay victories that solidified her status as an elite athlete.

Recent Competitions

  • O’Callaghan clinched a world championship title in the 200m freestyle in Tokyo in July.
  • She recently dominated a World Cup short course event in Indiana, winning the women’s 200m freestyle with a record time of 1:50.77.

Transgender Athlete Regulations

Currently, Lia Thomas, a transgender swimmer, is barred from competing in the female category according to World Aquatics guidelines. These regulations, introduced in 2022, prevent athletes who have experienced “any part of male puberty” from competing in women’s events. Thomas previously sought to overturn this rule as the Paris Olympics approached but was unsuccessful.

Swimming Australia continues to monitor the situation and has urged platforms like Meta to take action against these misleading posts while supporting its athlete amidst the controversy.