Australian swimming superstar Mollie O’Callaghan has revealed she fought through stress fractures and bone bruising in her back to compete at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Just over a week before the start of the program, the five-time Commonwealth and five-time Olympic gold medallist dropped the bombshell on social media. “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,” she said. The 22-year-old described the moment as one that reinforced just how much representing Australia means to her, and she immediately began seeking second opinions and exploring every possible avenue to keep her dream alive.
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Scans showed stress fractures and bone oedema in O’Callaghan’s lumbar spine, prompting her team to seek advice from a spinal specialist to determine if there was any safe way for her to compete. “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,” she said. O’Callaghan is currently listed to compete in three individual events — the 100m and 200m freestyle, and 50m backstroke — as well as a number of the women’s and mixed relays. The specialist team worked meticulously to design a tapered training program that would allow her to maintain fitness without aggravating the spinal injury, a delicate balancing act that has required daily monitoring and adjustments.
The 22-year-old also spoke about being hampered by a shoulder issue in the lead-up to the Games, which start on July 23. The Pan Pacific Swimming Championships begin in California about two weeks after the swimmers wrap up in Glasgow, adding to the demanding schedule that she is determined to navigate. “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,” O’Callaghan said. She thanked her team and spinal specialist for working tirelessly to find a way to keep her in the water while prioritising her recovery, acknowledging that the path forward required compromise and careful management of her training loads.
