Swim stars set tone for Australia with gold in Glasgow

Roger Vaughan and Shayne Hope | July 25, 2026

Swim ace Lani Pallister has consigned years of struggle and setbacks to history, opening Australia’s medal tally at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games with gold.

Pallister’s dominant win in the 400m freestyle – the first final on the Games swimming program – was the perfect start to a Glasgow campaign that is expected to reap Pallister a rich medal haul.

The 24-year-old was the only finalist to go under four minutes, clocking three minutes 59.56 seconds to easily beat New Zealander Erika Fairweather.

Pallister led from the start and kicked clear late, finishing ahead of Fairweather (4:02.65) and Australian Jenna Forrester (4:05.25).

Forrester backed up the bronze in style, completing medal ceremony duties before winning the 200m backstroke final.

Pallister, the daughter of three-time Commonwealth Games medallist Janelle Elford, was outside the Games record of 3:58.06, set by Australian great Ariarne Titmus in Birmingham.

It was also notably short of her 3:58.87 personal best, with Pallister admitting she wasn’t happy with the time.

But it represented a breakthrough win given COVID-19 cruelled Pallister’s Paris Olympics campaign. She qualified for the three distance freestyle events, but could only race in the 800m.

The god-daughter of Australian sporting great Dawn Fraser also had a succession of health problems in 2021, including heart surgery and an eating disorder.

“Without all the ups and downs I wouldn’t be the person or the athlete that I am today, and I think that’s really special,” she said after the win.

“I’m proud of the journey that I’ve been on and I wouldn’t change it for the world.

“I think it’s really shaped me into a good human. So it’s exciting to have a title to my name and continue the Australian legacy in the 400 freestyle.”

Pallister revealed her mother is on a plane back to Australia after working at an altitude training in Sierra Nevada with the national open water swim team.

“It’s amazing. I’m so fortunate that my mum has taken me the whole way through and kind of shown me the ropes, and Dawn as well,” she said.

Pallister is also favourite to win the 800m and 1500m freestyle, and will also contest the 200m freestyle and the 4x200m freestyle relay.

“It’s awesome to get a win for Australia on the board,” Pallister said.

“The first event of the Games is always one to set the tone, so I’m happy that I can do that for the whole team.”

Para swimmer Jenna Jones claimed Australia’s second gold, taking out the S13 100m freestyle on Saturday morning (AEST).

Australian William Petric qualified fastest in the 200m medley, but was fourth in the final as Scottish great Duncan Scott had the crowd roaring with his win.

Scott’s triumph is Scotland’s first gold at their home Games.