Australian swimming superstar Mollie O’Callaghan has revealed she has been “sticky-taped back together” to compete at the Commonwealth Games after a shock injury diagnosis last month.
The 22-year-old Olympic champion has been managing an ongoing shoulder problem but a much more serious back injury threatened her entire season.
O’Callaghan said she was initially ruled out of last month’s Australian trials, the Commonwealth Games and next month’s Pan Pacs — and in fact “told to stop swimming immediately”.
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The news would have been a disaster for the Australian team, which last week lost Kaylee McKeown from the high-profile events due to glandular fever.
But O’Callaghan sought second opinions after her diagnosis and received renewed hope, ultimately turning things around to win the 100m and 200m freestyle finals at the trials.
She has since been cleared again to compete in Glasgow and is now just over a week away from her first race at the Commonwealth Games.
“Just wanted to share some personal news and to also thank the people that have sticky-taped me back together to get on the plane,” O’Callaghan wrote on Instagram.
“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.
“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.”
O’Callaghan is the reigning Olympic and world champion (pictured) in the 200m freestyle. Credit: AAP
O’Callaghan said the scans showed stress fractures and bone oedema in her lumbar spine.
“My team immediately sought advice from a spinal specialist to see if there was any safe way for me to compete,” she said.
“Thankfully, after further assessment everything has continued to move in a positive direction, and after trials I was given the green light to compete at the Commonwealth Games and Pan Pacs.”
O’Callaghan remained on top at the trials to finish three tenths clear of Meg Harris in the 100m freestyle final and eight tenths ahead of Lani Pallister in the 200m.
But the Dean Boxall protege conceded “things might look a little different for me at the Commonwealth Games and Pan Pacs”.
“I’ll give everything I have and do my absolute best every time I race,” O’Callaghan said.
“A huge thank you to my team and my spinal specialist for working tirelessly to find a way to keep me in the water while making sure my recovery always came first.
“I truly couldn’t have done this without you.
“I can’t wait to wear the green and gold again. See you in Glasgow!”
O’Callaghan won five gold medals at the 2022 Commonwealth Games as an 18-year-old rising star, swimming to victory in the 100m freestyle and four relay finals.
She went on to claim her first individual Olympic gold in the 200m freestyle at Paris 2024 and repeated the dose at the world championships last year.
O’Callaghan’s injury news comes a day after teammate and freestyle rival Shayna Jack announced she would retire from the sport after Glasgow.
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