Mollie O'Callaghan given Commonwealth Games green light despite spinal fractures - 'I was told to stop swimming immediately'
Published 15/07/2026 at 15:17 GMT+1
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Five-time Olympic champion Mollie O'Callaghan has revealed she was last month diagnosed with stress fractures and bone oedema of the lumbar spine, but confirmed she will still compete at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
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The 22-year-old won seven medals at her first Games in Birmingham four years ago, before taking gold in the women’s 200m freestyle with an Olympic record at Paris 2024.
She will be aiming to win more medals at this year's Commonwealth Games, which begin on July 23 - live on TNT Sports and HBO Max.
But O'Callaghan has faced a battle to be fit in time to represent Australia at the event.
"Last month I was told I wouldn’t be able to compete at Trials, the Commonwealth Games or Pan Pacs," she wrote on social media. "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."
O'Callaghan is set to compete in the 100m and 200m freestyle, the 50m backstroke and mixed relay at the Commonwealth Games.
Following the conclusion of the Games on August 2, she will turn her attention to the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships in California from August 12-15.
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How to watch Glasgow 2026 in the UK and Ireland
HBO Max
Every event live will be available across all subscription plans, including TNT Sports 2 (The Commonwealth Games 360) and all live event streams. Further details on plans and pricing can be found here
Only TNT Sports plan subscribers in the UK will have access to additional TNT Sports channels.
- EE/BT:Â Customers can enjoy all the action via TNT Sports on HBO Max dependent on their subscription type.Â
- Sky:Â Customers can enjoy the full Commonwealth Games experience on TNT Sports, and HBO Max, dependent on their subscription.Â
- NOW: Customers can access the Commonwealth Games 360 channel via TNT Sports 2 with a Now Entertainment & HBO Max Membership, and in Ireland also via TNT Sports
- Virgin Media UK and Ireland:Â TNT Sports customers can watch the coverage (including via HBO Max in the UK)
- Amazon PVC: In the UK: Coverage available via a TNT Sports subscription. TNT Sports 2 and all live event streams also available on any HBO Max subscription. Â
- Roku, Samsung, Amazon Fire TV:Â Coverage available via a TNT Sports subscription. Customers can also access TNT Sports 2 and all live event streams via any HBO Max subscription.
The streaming home for TNT Sports in the UK is HBO Max, where fans can enjoy a subscription that includes live sport and entertainment in one destination.
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