In the Instagram post, Mack Horton gives a shout out to the fan who sent an email to their swim team doctor and asked to get the mole inspected. The 20-year-old swimmer did not give any more details about the surgery.
According to Independent, recent images of Horton in competitions, depict a mole increasing in size and getting darker in color. Australian Football League star Jarryd Roughead is being treated for lung cancer after having a mole removed from his lips in 2015.
The Melanoma Institute of Australia posted on Horton's Facebook page to thank him for "helping raise awareness" with regards to the importance of skin inspection. Around 2,000 Australians die annually because of skin cancer. The leading cause of skin cancer in Australia is prolonged exposure to UV radiation in sunlight.
Horton won over Chinese Olympic swimmer Sun Yang at the 2016 Rio Olympics, garnering the gold medal. However, he was subject to criticism from Chinese fans after stating he had "not time or respect for drug cheats." Horton was referring to Yang.
Yang thereafter accused Horton of intentionally attempting to psych him out. Horton's social media channels were then overwhelmed by hate comments from Chinese fans.
In the Instagram post above, many of Yang's fans attacked Horton in the comments section. One Instagram user alleged Horton's melanoma to have been provoked by doping as reported by Daily Mail Australia.
The Chinese Swimming Association sanctioned a three-month ban for Yang in 2014 after testing positive for a prohibited stimulant. Yang claims he only used the drug as a remedy for heart palpitations.
Australia and Horton refused to issue an apology to China and Yang.
