World record holder Mollie O’Callaghan announced on Instagram Tuesday that she was diagnosed with a stress fracture and bone oedema in her lumbar spine, but that she still intends to race at the 2026 Commonwealth Games and Pan Pacific Championships.
The post stated:
“One week to go until we set off for the Commonwealth Games and Pan Pacs. 💚💛 I’m so honoured to be putting on the green and gold again for my second Commonwealth Games and my first Pan Pacs.
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 to Glasgow.
It hasn’t been the easiest lead-up. I’ve been managing an ongoing shoulder injury as well as a back injury.
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. The scans showed stress fractures and bone oedema in my lumbar spine. My team immediately sought advice from a spinal specialist to see if there was any safe way for me 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.
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. 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. While all of this has been going on, I’ve also had the chance to work with some pretty awesome women on an exciting new project coming soon with @lane_four_ I can’t wait to wear the green and gold again 🇦🇺 See you in Glasgow!”
O’Callaghan is the reigning world champion in the 200 freestyle, and in October, she set a new world record in the SCM event, swimming 1:49.77 to become the first woman in history under 1:50.
She revealed that before Australian Trials, she was told she would not be able to compete and to “stop swimming immediately” after a scan showed stress fractures and bone oedema in her lumbar spine.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, bone oedema, or bone marrow edema, is an accumulation of fluid inside the bone marrow. It can be caused by underlying health conditions, injury, or infection.
O’Callaghan said that her team quickly found a spine specialist to determine if there was a safe way for her to compete, and she was given the green light to race this summer. At Australian Trials, she won the 100 free in 52.33 and the 200 free in 1:52.86. These were both season-best times for her. Her 100 free time currently ranks 3rd in the world this season behind Marrit Steenbergen and Anna Moesch, who she won’t race at all this summer.
In the 200 free, she set the top time in the world this season by almost a second over fellow Australian Lani Pallister. She will be the favorite to win both events at Pan Pacs and the Commonwealth Games next week, even after news of her injury.
Her post comes just days after fellow Australian superstar Kaylee McKeown announced she would be withdrawing from both meets this summer due to glandular fever, or mononucleosis, and Shayna Jack announced she would be retiring following the Commonwealth Games.
How does a swimmer get an injury like that? Lifting? Flip turns must feel brutal. Hope she has a speedy recovery.
Obviously she’s a great competitor. Just hope swimming at this summer’s meets doesn’t set back the healing process. Wishing her the best.