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The national swimming federation has moved to shut down labeled as “fake news” and “made-up statements” linked to swimmer Mollie O’Callaghan about transgender athlete Lia Thomas.

Online Content Spread Fake Claims

A comment linked to O’Callaghan but not published from her online platforms has appeared in posts on Facebook, as well as on Twitter, and implied the Olympic champion would not participate in the 2028 Olympics if a trans athlete is cleared to participate.

The statement falsely attributed to O’Callaghan included a provocative remark that “being in the same lane with Lia Thomas is absolutely an disgrace and a shame”.

Formal Statement from the Federation

The national body supported the star swimmer in a statement titled with “false statements attributed to Dolphin Mollie O’Callaghan”.

“At present, there are fabricated quotes attributed to Dolphin Mollie O’Callaghan appearing on platform posts,” the federation said this past Sunday.

“At no stage has O’Callaghan given an interview and given remarks on trans swimmers.

“Facebook’s parent company has been advised of the false information, and O’Callaghan and the federation have demanded the posts to be taken down.”

Latest Developments and Context

Updates that feature the statement credited to O’Callaghan were still visible on the platform on Monday, while a company representative said that “we are looking into the demand”.

The federation declined to make further comment.

American trans swimmer Lia Thomas is banned from competing in the female category under existing international swimming rules and could not change the regulations in the period before the recent Games.

The international federation put in place regulations in 2022 which prohibit anyone who has experienced “any phase of male development” from the women’s competition.

Regarding Mollie O’Callaghan

O’Callaghan is a multiple champion after defeating teammate Ariarne Titmus in the 200m freestyle final at the 2024 Paris Games along with contributing to several team victories.

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

O’Callaghan was participating in a World Cup short course meet in Indiana over the weekend and beat the field by nearly two seconds to take out the freestyle race in a new best of a record time.