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The national swimming federation has taken steps to shut down described as “false information” and “made-up statements” associated with Olympic champion Mollie O’Callaghan about transgender athlete Lia Thomas.

Online Content Spread Inaccurate Statements

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 Twitter, and implied the Olympic champion would boycott in the 2028 Olympics if a transgender athlete is allowed to compete.

The quote incorrectly linked to O’Callaghan included a provocative comment that “being in the same lane with Lia Thomas is really an disgrace and a shame”.

Formal Response from Swimming Australia

The national body backed the star swimmer in a release headlined with “fabricated comments attributed to Dolphin Mollie O’Callaghan”.

“At present, there are fabricated quotes linked to team member Mollie O’Callaghan circulating on online content,” the organization said this past Sunday.

“At no stage has O’Callaghan been interviewed and made statements on this issue.

“Meta has been advised of the false information, and O’Callaghan and Swimming Australia have demanded the content to be deleted.”

Current Status and Background

Updates that include the quote credited to O’Callaghan were still online on the platform on the following day, while a Meta spokesperson said that “we are reviewing the request”.

Swimming Australia did not offer further comment.

American trans swimmer Lia Thomas is prohibited from participating in the women’s events under existing governing body guidelines and was unable to challenge the policies in the lead up to the Olympic event.

The international federation introduced rules in 2022 which forbid anyone who has experienced “any part of male development” from the women’s competition.

About Mollie O’Callaghan

O’Callaghan is a multiple champion after outpacing compatriot Ariarne Titmus in the 200m freestyle championship race at the recent Olympics along with participating in four winning relays.

O’Callaghan secured a 200m freestyle world championship crown to her accolades in Tokyo in recent months.

O’Callaghan was participating in a World Cup event in Indiana recently and outpaced the competitors by nearly two seconds to claim the freestyle race in a Commonwealth record of 1:50.77.