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The national swimming federation has taken steps to suppress described as “fake news” and “fabricated quotes” linked to Olympic champion Mollie O’Callaghan about transgender athlete Lia Thomas.

Social Media Posts Circulate Fake Claims

A comment linked to O’Callaghan but not posted from her online platforms has appeared in updates on the social media site Facebook, as well as on the platform X, and suggested the Olympic champion would boycott in the Los Angeles Olympics if a transgender athlete is cleared to compete.

These words falsely attributed to O’Callaghan included a inflammatory remark that “being in the same lane with Lia Thomas is really an affront and a embarrassment”.

Formal Response from Swimming Australia

The national body backed the Olympic champion in a statement headlined with “fabricated comments linked to Dolphin Mollie O’Callaghan”.

“There are currently made-up comments attributed to Dolphin Mollie O’Callaghan seen on online content,” Swimming Australia announced this past Sunday.

“Not at any point has O’Callaghan given an interview and given remarks on this issue.

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

Latest Developments and Context

Posts that include the quote credited to O’Callaghan were still visible on the platform on Monday, while a platform official commented that “we are investigating the appeal”.

The federation declined to make more details.

United States trans swimmer Lia Thomas is prohibited from racing in the women’s events under current World Aquatics guidelines and was unable to challenge the rules in the lead up to the Paris Olympics.

The governing body enacted rules in recent years which ban anyone who has experienced “any phase of male puberty” from the women’s competition.

About Mollie O’Callaghan

O’Callaghan is a five-time gold medal winner after defeating compatriot Ariarne Titmus in the 200m freestyle final at the recent Olympics along with being part of four winning relays.

O’Callaghan earned a 200-meter freestyle global championship to her accolades in Japan in July this year.

O’Callaghan was racing in a international event in Indiana over the weekend and outpaced the field by nearly two seconds to claim the freestyle race in a record time of a record time.