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Swimming Australia has acted to shut down what it calls “fabricated stories” and “made-up statements” linked to swimmer Mollie O’Callaghan about transgender athlete Lia Thomas.

Social Media Content Spread False Claims

A comment linked to O’Callaghan but not posted from her online platforms has surfaced in content on the social media site Facebook, as well as on the platform X, and claimed the elite athlete would boycott in the 2028 Olympics if a transgender athlete is permitted to participate.

The statement falsely attributed to O’Callaghan contained a provocative comment that “competing in the same pool with Lia Thomas is really an affront and a disgrace”.

Formal Statement from Swimming Australia

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

“At present, there are fabricated quotes attributed to Dolphin Mollie O’Callaghan appearing on social media posts,” the organization said recently.

“Never has O’Callaghan been interviewed and made statements on trans swimmers.

“Meta has been advised of the false information, and O’Callaghan and the federation have requested the posts to be taken down.”

Current Status and Context

Content that feature the comment attributed to O’Callaghan were still visible on Facebook on Monday, while a Meta spokesperson commented that “we are reviewing the appeal”.

The federation refused to give more details.

United States transgender athlete Lia Thomas is banned from participating in the female category under present World Aquatics regulations and could not change the regulations in the run-up to the Olympic event.

The governing body enacted rules in recent years which prohibit anyone who has gone through “any phase of male development” from the women’s competition.

Regarding Mollie O’Callaghan

O’Callaghan is a multiple Olympic gold medallist after defeating teammate Ariarne Titmus in the 200-meter freestyle championship race at the 2024 Paris Games along with participating in four winning relays.

The young champion secured a 200m freestyle global championship to her achievements in Japan in July this year.

O’Callaghan was racing in a World Cup short course meet in Indiana recently and defeated the field by nearly two seconds to claim the freestyle race in a new best of a record time.