Swimming Australia strikes to close down Mollie O’Callaghan ‘fake quotes’ about transgender athlete | Swimming

Swimming Australia has moved to close down “fake news” and “fabricated quotes” linked to swimmer Mollie O’Callaghan about transgender athlete Lia Thomas.

A remark attributed to O’Callaghan however not posted from her social media account has appeared in posts on Meta platform Facebook, in addition to on X, and advised the swimming star wouldn’t take part within the 2028 LA Games if a transgender swimmer is allowed to compete.

The quote falsely attributed to O’Callaghan included a provocative assertion that “sharing a pool with Lia Thomas is truly an insult and a disgrace”.

Swimming Australia backed the Olympic champion in an announcement headlined with “fake quotes attributed to Dolphin Mollie O’Callaghan”.

“There are currently fabricated quotes attributed to Dolphin Mollie O’Callaghan appearing on social media posts,” Swimming Australia mentioned on Sunday.

“At no stage has O’Callaghan been interviewed and provided commentary on transgender athletes.

“Meta has been advised of the fake news, and O’Callaghan and Swimming Australia have requested the posts to be taken down.”

Posts that embody the quote attributed to O’Callaghan have been nonetheless seen on Facebook on Monday, whereas a Meta spokesperson informed Guardian Australia that “we are investigating the request”.

Swimming Australia declined to make additional remark.

United States transgender athlete Thomas is barred from competing within the feminine class underneath present World Aquatics pointers and did not overturn the foundations within the lead as much as the Paris Olympics.

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The governing physique launched pointers in 2022 which prohibit anybody who has undergone “any part of male puberty” from the feminine class.

O’Callaghan is a five-time Olympic gold medallist after beating fellow Australian Ariarne Titmus within the 200m freestyle closing on the 2024 Paris Games together with being a part of 4 relay group triumphs.

The 21-year-old added a 200m freestyle world championship crown to her honours in Tokyo in July this 12 months.

O’Callaghan was competing in a World Cup brief course meet in Indiana over the weekend and beat the sphere by practically two seconds to take out the ladies’s 200m freestyle in a Commonwealth file 1:50.77.