Lani Pallister Caps Off Dream Week with Commonwealth Record at Australian Swimming Trials

ADELAIDE: Lani Pallister, an Australian distance swimmer and god-daughter of the legendary Dawn Fraser, shattered her second national record in just three days during the closing evening of the world championship trials.

After breaking Ariarne Titmus’ national record with a time of 8:10.84 in the 800m freestyle, Pallister clocked an impressive 15:39.14 in the 1500m freestyle, claiming both the national and Commonwealth records in this challenging 30-lap race.

Notably, Pallister now ranks as the third-fastest swimmer in history for the 800m, trailing only Katie Ledecky and Summer McIntosh, and she is also the third-fastest in the 1500m, following Ledecky and Lotte Friis.

The national 1500m record she bested was previously held by Maddy Gough, who swam 15:46.13 at the Tokyo 2021 trials, while the Commonwealth record was set by New Zealand’s Lauren Boyle at 15:40.14 during the 2015 world championships in Russia.

“I thought I was going to be sick at the 1000-metre mark,” Pallister remarked with a chuckle in the media mixed zone.

“I just tried to think about [clubmate] Benny Goedemans after his 1500m swim last night and pull it together.”

“This week has been fantastic, and it’s been wonderful to rediscover my love for swimming after changing squads,” she added.

“I think it reflects what I’m capable of. I’m thrilled to continue building on this. I don’t see this as my limit by any means. I’m looking forward to diving back into some hard training over the next five weeks, working on the progress I’ve made with Dean [Boxall, her coach].”

Pallister’s performance at the Adelaide trials was remarkable; she achieved personal bests in each of the four events she competed in, clocking 1:54.89 in the 200m, 3:59.72 in the 400m, along with her record-breaking times in the 800m and 1500m.

The 23-year-old swimmer has qualified for the world championships in all four events, although she will not compete in the individual 200m in Singapore.

Pallister, who secured gold as part of the victorious 4x200m relay team at the Paris 2024 Olympics, is expected to participate in the relay team at the upcoming world championships.

Once again, Fraser was present at the SA Aquatic and Leisure Centre, cheering Pallister on as she achieved yet another astounding triumph on Saturday night.

Pallister (15:39.14) was followed by Tiana Kritzinger, who finished in 16:16.04, meeting Swimming Australia’s time standard to qualify for her first senior Dolphins long-course team.

Pallister transitioned from the Griffith University squad on the Gold Coast to the St Peters Western program in Brisbane, where she now trains with Boxall, the coach behind Olympic champions Ariarne Titmus and Mollie O’Callaghan.

The highly energetic coach, known for his viral celebration of Titmus’ 400m freestyle victory at the Tokyo Olympics, was visibly animated in the crowd during Pallister’s record-setting swim on Saturday night.

The Dolphins team for the world championships in Singapore, scheduled from July 28 to August 3, was announced at the conclusion of the trials.

Dolphins team for world championships

Pool (July 28 to August 3)

Hannah Casey, Brittany Castelluzzo, Kyle Chalmers, Jesse Coleman, Abbey Connor, Isaac Cooper, Josh Edwards-Smith, Jenna Forrester, Hannah Fredericks, Max Giuliani, Ben Goedemans, Meg Harris, Charlie Hawke, Milla Jansen, Moesha Johnson, Tara Kinder, Kyle Lee, Tayla Martin, Cameron McEvoy, Kaylee McKeown, Mollie O’Callaghan, Lani Pallister, Alexandria Perkins, Jamie Perkins, William Petric, Lily Price, Ella Ramsay, Thomas Raymond, David Schlicht, Sam Short, Nick Sloman, Brendon Lee, Ed Sommerville, Flynn Southam, Zac Stubblety-Cook, Kai Taylor, Matt Temple, Sienna Toohey, Harrison Turner, Abbey Webb

Open water (July 15-20)

Chelsea Gubecka, Moesha Johnson (pool and open water), Kyle Lee, Nick Sloman, Tayla Martin, Thomas Raymond