Mollie O'Callaghan says she's been "sticky-taped" together to compete at the Commonwealth Games, with the Australian swim superstar overcoming back fractures.
Just over a week before the start of the program in Glasgow, the five-time Commonwealth and five-time Olympic Games gold medallist revealed she had also been managing a serious shoulder injury.
Because of the seriousness of the back issue, she was initially told to "stop swimming immediately" and that the national trials, the Commonwealth Games and the Pan Pacific championships in California in August were off the table.
"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," the 22-year-old posted on Instagram.
"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.
"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."
O'Callaghan is currently listed to compete in three individual events - the 100m and 200m freestyle, and the 50m backstroke - plus a number of the women's and mixed relays.
She suggested there could be changes to that program.
"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 wrote from the Australian team's training base in Germany.
"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's revelation came after teammate Shayna Jack announced on Tuesday her plans to retire after the Glasgow Games.
Another five-time Olympic gold medallist, Kaylee McKeown, was recently forced to withdraw from the competition in Scotland after being diagnosed with glandular fever.
