Australian Swimming Federation Acts to Suppress Fabricated Quotes Attributed to Champion Swimmer Mollie O’Callaghan
Swimming Australia has taken steps to stop what it calls “fake news” and “false comments” attributed to swimmer Mollie O’Callaghan regarding transgender athlete Lia Thomas.
Online Posts Circulate Fake Statements
A comment credited to O’Callaghan but not shared from her online platforms has surfaced in updates on Facebook, as well as on Twitter, and suggested the swimming star would refuse to compete in the Los Angeles Olympics if a transgender swimmer is allowed to race.
These words wrongly credited to O’Callaghan featured a provocative remark that “being in the same lane with Lia Thomas is truly an insult and a shame”.
Formal Statement from the Federation
Swimming Australia stood by the gold medalist in a announcement labeled with “false statements linked to Dolphin Mollie O’Callaghan”.
“Currently, we see false statements attributed to Dolphin Mollie O’Callaghan circulating on social media posts,” the federation stated this past Sunday.
“At no stage has O’Callaghan been interviewed and given remarks on this issue.
“Meta has been informed of the fabricated stories, and O’Callaghan and Swimming Australia have asked the posts to be removed.”
Latest Developments and Background
Posts that feature the comment linked to O’Callaghan were still online on the platform on the following day, while a company representative said that “we are reviewing the demand”.
Swimming Australia did not offer additional statements.
American trans swimmer Lia Thomas is banned from competing in the women’s division under current governing body rules and could not change the regulations in the period before the Paris Olympics.
The governing body put in place guidelines in recent years which forbid anyone who has undergone “any part of male development” from the women’s competition.
About Mollie O’Callaghan
O’Callaghan is a five-time gold medal winner after defeating teammate Ariarne Titmus in the 200m freestyle final at the Paris event along with participating in four winning relays.
The 21-year-old secured a freestyle global championship to her accolades in Japan in July this year.
O’Callaghan was racing in a short course event in the United States recently and outpaced the opponents by almost two seconds to take out the freestyle race in a record time of 1:50.77.
