Australian swimmer Mollie O’Callaghan reveals she has spinal fractures
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Paris Olympics women’s 200m freestyle gold medallist Mollie O'Callaghan (right) of Australia celebrating on the podium with silver medallist and compatriot Ariarne Titmus at Paris La Defense Arena on July 29, 2024.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Sydney – Australian Olympic champion Mollie O’Callaghan said on July 15 that she had been told to “stop swimming immediately” in June because of spinal stress fractures, but has been cleared to race at next week’s Commonwealth Games.
O’Callaghan, the reigning Olympic 200m freestyle champion, revealed her anguish in the run-up to the Games in Glasgow, which begin on July 23, 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 showed stress fractures and bone oedema, or swelling, on her lumbar spine, O’Callaghan said, and her team sought advice from a spinal specialist.
After “further assessment” following the swimming trials, O’Callaghan said she was given the green light to compete at the Commonwealth Games and the Pan Pacific Championships.
O’Callaghan is entered in three individual events in Glasgow – the 100m and 200m freestyle, and 50m backstroke – and several women’s and mixed relays, but she hinted her schedule could 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 said.
Her health revelations came a day after fellow Australian swimmer Shayna Jack, 27, announced she will retire from competition after the Commonwealth Games.
“I’m ready to announce my retirement and be Shayna Jack,” she said in an emotional video recalling how “life blew up for me in 2019”.
With the 2020 Olympic Games in her sights, her world came crashing down after testing positive for the muscle growth agent ligandrol in an out-of-competition test in June 2019.
She was banned for four years despite 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 said.
Last week, Australian backstroke star Kaylee McKeown pulled out of the Commonwealth Games and Pan Pacific Swimming Championships, citing fatigue and loss of breath.
The reigning Olympic, world and Commonwealth 100m and 200m backstroke champion said she was devastated to miss the events where she would have been a red-hot favourite.
“I am gutted to medically withdraw,” said the 25-year-old, widely considered the greatest backstroker of all time. “What I thought a few months ago was the flu has turned out to be my body fighting glandular fever.” AFP
