Early Life and Family
Lani Pallister was born on June 6, 2002, in Sydney, Australia. She is the daughter of Janelle Pallister, a former swimmer who competed in the 1988 Summer Olympics and won gold at the 1990 Commonwealth Games. Pallister has been coached by her mother from a young age and, in 2020, moved to Griffith University to continue her training under both her mother and coach Michael Bohl. Her godmother is the celebrated Olympian Dawn Fraser.
Career Beginnings
Lani Pallister competitive swimming career began to shine early. At the 2017 FINA World Junior Swimming Championships in Indianapolis, she placed eighth in the 1500-metre freestyle and tenth in the 800-metre freestyle. In January 2018, at just 15 years old, she won her first title in the Pier to Pub open water swim. Later that year, she set a world lifesaving record in the 100-metre rescue medley at the National Pool Championships and continued her success at the Junior Pan Pacific Championships, where she won gold medals in the 1500-metre, 800-metre, and 400-metre freestyles.
Breakthrough Achievements
In 2018, Lani Pallister also excelled at the World Lifesaving Championships, setting new world records in the 200-metre super lifesaver and the 100-metre rescue medley. By 2019, she had won her second consecutive Pier to Pub title and secured gold in the 800-metre and 400-metre freestyles, and silver in the 4×200-metre freestyle relay at the FINA World Junior Swimming Championships in Budapest.
Record-Breaking Performances
The year 2020 was marked by Lani Pallister continued dominance. She won her third consecutive title in the Pier to Pub swim and set new Australian records in the 800-metre freestyle. The 2020 Australian Short Course Championships, held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic, saw her set new records in both the 800-metre and 1500-metre freestyles.
International Success
Lani Pallister international success was highlighted at the 2022 World Short Course Championships, where she won gold in the 1500-metre freestyle, becoming the first female World Short Course champion in that event. She also won gold in the 4×200-metre freestyle relay, setting a new world record. Pallister further made history by becoming the first Australian woman to medal in the 1500-metre freestyle at the World Aquatics Championships, where she won bronze.
At the 2022 Commonwealth Games, Lani Pallister won bronze in the 800-metre freestyle and placed fifth in the 400-metre freestyle. Her performance at the Australian Short Course Championships later that year included gold in the 400-metre and 800-metre freestyles, setting new Australian and All Comers records.
Recent Developments
In 2023, Lani Pallister continued to perform well, securing a second-place finish in the Pier to Pub open water swim and winning silver medals in the 400-metre and 800-metre freestyles at the Australian Swimming Championships. However, during the 2024 Summer Olympics, she was forced to withdraw from the 1500-metre freestyle due to testing positive for Covid-19.
Legacy
Lani Pallister has established herself as a prominent swimmer with a series of records and accolades across various swimming and lifesaving events. Her achievements have made her a significant figure in Australian swimming and an inspiration for young athletes around the world.
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