Pallister bags fourth world swim gold

Melissa Woods | December 16, 2022

Lani Pallister has written herself into the record books, becoming the first female swimmer to win three freestyle gold medals at a single short course world championships after adding the 1500 metres title to her haul.

While Pallister celebrated, her teammate Isaac Cooper was left distraught after he was denied a backstroke gold medal after his final had to be re-run.

Pallister was untouchable in the long distance race in Melbourne on Friday night, lapping some of her rivals before finishing in 15 minutes 21.43 seconds – over 25 seconds clear of the field and a new Australian record.

The daughter of former Australian distance swimming great Janelle Elford, Pallister opened the titles on Tuesday with victory in the 400m freestyle final and then backed up a day later to win gold in the 800m.

She was also part of the 4x200m freestyle relay team which set a new world record.

Pallister was presented with her 1500m gold by her “spiritual godmother”, Australian swimming great Dawn Fraser, with the pair sharing the dais together in a touching moment.

Pallister had a horror run with injury and illness over the past 18 months, undergoing heart surgery as well as battling an eating disorder and glandular fever and contemplated giving the sport away.

She said she was thrilled with her results.

“I’m excited to go four from four – I couldn’t have asked for much better,, it’s been an incredible experience,” Pallister said.

“After the last year, coming from such a low to world champs and Comm Games this year, doing this meet has been icing on the cake for me.”

Cooper was first home in the 50m backstroke final but less than half the field completed the race after an alarm sounded due to a “technical error”.

An hour later the race was re-run with Ryan Murphy touching ahead of Cooper, however the American deemed the 18-year-old Queenslander the true champion with his first time 0.15 seconds faster than Murphy’s winning effort.

The 18-year-old Queenslander said it was another blow after he was sent home just prior to the Commonwealth Games for misusing prescription medication.

“Life keeps on throwing shit at me and I keep on pushing through,” Cooper told reporters.

“I’ve been trying my best – I’ve gone through so many low points and all I want to do is to be able to stand on top and every time I do I get knocked back again.”

Australia also had to settle for silver in the mixed freestyle relay with France bursting out of the blocks to smash the world record.

Long course world champions in the 4x50m, Emma McKeon swam the final Australian leg and entered the pool out of a medal spot but powered home to finish second.

The Australian men’s 4x200m freestyle relay team had the same outcome, finishing second behind the USA, who also blitzed the world record.

McKeon backed up from the relay to set the pace heading into Saturday’s 50m freestyle final while relay teammate Kyle Chalmers won his 50m semi but posted the fourth fastest time.

Another world mark fell in the women’s 50m backstroke with Canadian Maggie MacNeil breaking her own record by 0.02 seconds, with American Claire Curzan in second and Australian teen Mollie O’Callaghan picking up bronze. 

The Americans had more to celebrate in the women’s 200m breaststroke with Kate Douglass and Olympic silver medallist Lilly King taking the top two spots.

Australia’s Jenna Strauch finished fourth.

Daiya Seto won Japan’s first gold medal of the meet, taking out the men’s 200m breaststroke.