Mollie O’Callaghan reveals she has spinal fractures forward of Commonwealth Games | Swimming

Australian Olympic champion Mollie O’Callaghan had been instructed to “stop swimming immediately” final month due to spinal stress fractures, however has been cleared to race at subsequent week’s Commonwealth Games.

O’Callaghan, the reigning Olympic 200m freestyle champion, revealed her anguish within the run-up to the video games in Glasgow, which start on 23 July, and the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships in California in August.

“Last month I was told I wouldn’t be able to compete at trials, the Commonwealth Games or Pan Pacs. I was also told to stop swimming immediately,” the 22-year-old posted on Instagram.

“It was a moment that reinforced just how much representing Australia means to me and how badly I want to be part of this team.”

Scans confirmed stress fractures and bone oedema on her lumbar backbone, O’Callaghan stated, and her staff sought recommendation from a spinal specialist.

After “further assessment” following the swimming trials, O’Callaghan stated she was given the inexperienced gentle to compete on the Commonwealth Games and the Pan Pacific championships.

O’Callaghan is entered in three particular person occasions in Glasgow – the 100m and 200m freestyle, and 50m backstroke – and a number of other ladies’s and combined relays, however she hinted her schedule may change.

“Things might look a little different for me at the Commonwealth Games and Pan Pacs but I’ll give everything I have and do my absolute best every time I race,” she stated.

O’Callaghan’s well being revelations got here as fellow Australian swimmer Shayna Jack introduced she’s going to retire from competitors after the Commonwealth Games.

“I’m ready to announce my retirement and be Shayna Jack,” she stated in an emotional video recalling how “life blew up for me in 2019”.

With the 2020 Games in her sights, her world got here crashing down after testing optimistic for the muscle progress agent Ligandrol in an out-of-competition check in June 2019.

She was banned for 4 years regardless of proclaiming her innocence, insisting the substance entered her system by contamination.

“I want to go out there, head held high, proud of who I am, proud of who I am representing and proud of what I am saying goodbye to,” Jack stated.