Pallister Upsets Fairweather in Australian Swimming Championships; McEvoy Eyes World Record
BRISBANE, Australia – Lani Pallister delivered a stunning upset at the Australian Swimming Championships, held at the Brisbane Aquatic Center on Wednesday, defeating reigning world champion Erika Fairweather of New Zealand in the women’s 400m freestyle. Pallister’s victory comes as two-time reigning Olympic champion Ariarne Titmus opted to sit out the national titles.
Pallister surged to the front, winning by a body length with a time of 4:02.34. “It was good fun,” Pallister said after the race. “I’ve said all week I didn’t think I’d be that fast in-season, so I’m happy that I think that’s probably one of my fastest in-season times, only 0.6 off my best. So yeah, I’ll take it.”
Pallister, along with many other swimmers at the championships, is focused on the World Championship Trials in Adelaide in June. She admitted she wasn’t expecting such a strong performance at this stage of the season. “I think this week for me is a training week, I think we dropped for like two sessions coming in, but that’s really it,” Pallister said. “So I think a lot of the guys at St Peter’s [Western] didn’t think we woudl be swimming times like we are, but I think it’s really exciting going through into [the World Championships in] Singapore. But yeah, I just wanted to get behind the block as many times as possible, get used to diving again, being in a comp pool and really going to trials in good shape.”
fairweather, who finished fourth in the Paris Olympic final, trailed Pallister by 2.21 seconds. Jamie Perkins took third, and Mollie O’Callaghan finished fourth. O’callaghan revealed she’s still recovering from a dislocated knee, feeling like she’s “kicking with one leg at the moment.”
Fairweather earned New Zealand’s first-ever gold medal at a World Aquatics Championships when she won the women’s 400 freestyle in Doha earlier this year. However, the absence of swimming powerhouses like Ariarne Titmus, Katie Ledecky, and Summer McIntosh from that race somewhat diminished the victory in the eyes of some observers. Fairweather is among an elite group of five women,including titmus,Ledecky,mcintosh,and Italian Federica Pellegrini,to have broken the four-minute barrier in the 400m freestyle. She achieved this feat at the 2023 World Championships, finishing third behind Titmus and Ledecky in what was dubbed the “race of the century.”
Despite the loss, Fairweather’s performance at the Australian Championships underscores her continued presence among the world’s elite. For Pallister, the win is a major confidence boost as she heads into the crucial qualification period for upcoming international competitions.
“Erika and I have grown up racing, I think the first time we raced each other was 2018 junior Pan Pacs maybe, so it’s kind of been a long time coming,” Pallister said. “I know she’s had a change of program, she had a fairly long off season after the Olympics, so I don’t think a meet like this really has that much bearing on it. But also the 400 to me as an event that’s making my 800 and 1,500 better, it’s definitely not a priority I guess in terms of the three events. I race it because I’m good at it, but yeah I think it’s just been it’s been a good week getting back into racing.”
Pallister’s journey to distance swimming success is somewhat accidental. After initial success in butterfly, a program mix-up led her to the 800m freestyle. “It’s funny how those things happen,” Pallister said. “It’s kind of like a door opening just for the sake of it opening. It’s a good job it did. like, the first 800 I made the state quali [qualification time], my first ever state race I made the national qualis, and then I made the junior national team off the back of that.”
Pallister also actively participates in open water swims and Ironman Surf Lifesaving events. “I’ve grown up with life saving my whole life,” Pallister said. “And doing Pier to Pub and those sorts of ocean swims is always really fun, and I think it’s a good way to keep active. If I sit still for too long my mind just goes all over the place, so I think keeping moving and doing things, whether it’s going and seeing friends or going and doing an ocean swim, even if I’m not a 100 per cent fit, is always really good for the
What do you think is the crucial element too success for Lani Pallister? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Lani pallister’s Stunning Victory and Future Swimming Aspirations: Archyde Exclusive
Archyde News Editor: Welcome, Lani Pallister, to Archyde. Congratulations on your impressive victory at the Australian Swimming Championships! It was a thrilling race.
Lani Pallister: Thanks so much for having me. It was a good swim, definitely a surprise.
Archyde News Editor: absolutely. Can you tell us a bit about how this win felt, especially against a competitor like Erika Fairweather?
Lani Pallister: It was good fun. I’ve said all week I didn’t think I’d be that fast in-season,so I’m really happy. I think it’s probably one of my fastest in-season times,only 0.6 off my best.Erika and I have grown up racing each other and I know she’s had a change of program after the Olympics, so I don’t think a meet like this really has that much bearing on it. It’s just been a good week getting back into racing.
Archyde news Editor: You mentioned this being part of your training week. How do you balance these “in-season” meets with your training goals, especially with the World Championship Trials coming up?
Lani Pallister: This week for me is a training week. We dropped for like two sessions coming in, that’s really it. A lot of the guys at St Peter’s [Western] didn’t think we would be swimming times like we are,but I think it’s really exciting going through into [the World Championships in] Singapore. I just wanted to get behind the block as manny times as possible, and get used to diving again, being in a comp pool and really going to trials in good shape.
Archyde News Editor: Your journey into distance swimming is interesting – almost accidental,you might say. How has this unexpected turn shaped your approach to the sport?
Lani Pallister: It’s funny how those things happen. It’s kind of like a door opening just for the sake of it opening. It’s a good job it did, as the first 800 I made the state quali [qualification time], my first ever state race I made the national qualis, and then I made the junior national team off the back of that.
Archyde News Editor: You also participate in open water swims and Ironman Surf Lifesaving events. How does this cross-training contribute to your overall performance and mental well-being?
Lani Pallister: I’ve grown up with life saving my whole life, and doing Pier to Pub and those sorts of ocean swims is always really fun and I think it’s a good way to keep active.If I sit still for too long my mind just goes all over the place, so I think keeping moving and doing things, whether it’s going and seeing friends or going and doing an ocean swim, even if I’m not a 100 per cent fit, is always really good for the.
Archyde News Editor: Beyond the physical aspects of swimming, what do you believe is the most critical element of success in the sport, maybe even something beyond your technical prowess?
Lani Pallister: Oh, that is a tricky one as there are a lot of factors that goes into achieving success.But what I think is critically important is believing in yourself and not giving up as you will face tough situations and obstacles. It is also critical to love the sport, to have passion and enthusiasm, or it is hard to be consistent in your training.
Archyde News Editor: Looking ahead to Singapore, and the World Championship Trials, what are your main goals and what areas of your training are you focusing on now?
Lani Pallister: well it is indeed all about Trials first, trying to nail a spot. But it is about getting back there and working to solidify my technique. It’s been a really great week here with the times I’ve set. getting that confidence up and now I am just trying to make trials as good as I can be.
Archyde News Editor: Lani, thank you for your time and insights. We wish you the best of luck in your future competitions.
Reader Interaction: What do you think is the crucial element to success for Lani Pallister? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
