Lani Pallister

Biography

Lani Pallister, an exceptional distance freestyler, has swimming in her blood. Daughter of Olympian Janelle Pallister (formerly Elford) and champion surf lifesaver Rick Pallister, it's no surprise that Lani has made significant waves in both swimming and surf lifesaving. Growing up in the surf of Sydney and under the coaching tutelage of her mother, Lani has not only triumphed in the pool but also set world records in surf lifesaving events such as the 100m rescue medley and the 200m super lifesaver.

At just 17, Lani was a standout at the 2019 World Junior Swimming Championships in Budapest, clinching gold medals in the 400m, 800m, and 1500m events, plus silvers in the 200m and freestyle relays. However, her journey hasn't been without challenges. Diagnosed with supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) and an eating disorder, she underwent heart surgery but has shown remarkable resilience.

In 2020, Lani transitioned to the Griffith University Swim Club on the Gold Coast, where she continues to be coached by both her mother and Michael Bohl. Despite just missing the Tokyo Olympics, Lani shone at the 2022 World Championships in Budapest, securing silver and bronze medals, and later proved her mettle at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

The latter part of 2022 saw Lani achieve global recognition at the World Short Course Championships in Melbourne, where she earned the title of Female Swimmer of the Meet after claiming four gold medals. Her performance at the 2023 World Championships in Fukuoka further solidified her reputation, and breaking the 800m freestyle World Cup record in Hungary only added another feather to her cap.

Lani’s qualification for the Paris 2024 Olympics was confirmed with stellar performances at the Australian Olympic trials, ensuring her place in multiple freestyle events. Studying biomedical science at Griffith University, Lani embodies the spirit of perseverance and excellence, both in and out of the pool.