Australia’s Lani Pallister has continued her Glasgow distance domination at the Tollcross International Swimming Centre tonight breaking the Games record to win the 800m freestyle in a time of 8:11.12 – winning her fourth gold of the meet.
The World Championship silver medallist and Short Course world record holder and 2022 WorldS C Champion, adding the 800m freestyle to her opening night win in the 400m and her all-the-way victory in the inaugural 1500m freestyle – breaking the Games record of 8:13.59 set by Ariarne Titmus in Birmingham four years ago.
Pallister was a member of the all-conquering Dolphins 800m freestyle relay after winning silver in the individual 200m freestyle behind team mate Mollie O’Callaghan – concluding her most successful-ever Games.
Reaffirming herself as a real deal in the countdown to the LA28 Olympics and the showdown with Olympic champions American Katie Ledecky and Canadian Summer McIntosh – whom will be awaiting her arrival in two the US for next month’s Pan Pacs in Irvine, California.
As hard as she tried, New Zealand’s 2024 world champion Erika Fairweather couldn’t match it with Pallister who was just under world record pace going through the first 400m, the Kiwi holding on for silver 14 seconds and 20m behind the Australian in 8:24.97.
Australian team rookie Molly Walker producing the swim off her life to storm home in a personal best time of 8:25.93 – a brave effort indeed bye the young South Australian, who stood arm-in-arm with Pallister during the playing of the Australian National Anthem.
Pallister going through the first 400m in 4:02.30 – just half second outside world record pace and a time that would have seen her take silver in the 400m freestyle individual -won by Pallister in 3:59.56.
Pallister’s splits: 27:91; 57.88; 1:58.94; 3:00.46; 4:02.30; 5:04.68; 6:07.28; 7:10.26; 8:11.12.
The 24-year-old winning the ninth gold medal since Karen Moras won Australia’s first gold in Edinburgh in 1970 and following Tracey Wickham (1978 and 1982), Julie McDonald (1990), Stacey Gartrell (1994), Rachel Harris (1998) and Ariarne Titmus (2018 and 2022).
Pallister joining her mother Janelle Elford who won silver behind McDonald in 1990 in Auckland – where she also won bronze in the 400m freestyle and gold in the Australian 800m freestyle relay.