Horton thanks to fan for suspect mole tip

Olympic swimming gold medallist Mack Horton has had a mole removed after it was noticed by a fan who contacted the Australian swimming team.

Mack Horton of Australia poses with his gold medal at the end of the men's 400m Freestyle final of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games Source: AAP

Olympic swimming gold medallist Mack Horton has thanked an eagle-eyed fan who noticed a suspect mole on his chest and contacted the Australian team.

Horton, who won gold in the 400m freestyle in Rio, posted a message of thanks to his anonymous saviour on his Instagram account after having the mole cut out from his chest.

"Shout out to the person that emailed the swim team doctor and told me to get my mole checked out. Good call. Very good call," Horton wrote, bearing a bandage and the 'thumbs up' in the photograph.

The mole was removed on Thursday in Melbourne.

Horton is still expected to compete at next month's national short-course championships in Brisbane.