Lani Pallister on Her Training Progression and Future in Swimming

Lani Pallister never thought she would have an individual international title. Katie Hoff Anderson and Elizabeth Beisel ask the Olympic gold medalist how her career took off after she broke the short course world record in the 800, and whether the last 18 months feel as big from the inside as they look from the outside.

Since moving to Dean Boxall at St Peters, she has gone from a heat swimmer on the Australian 4x200 freestyle relay in 2022 and 2023 to a staple of the team, with a world record and individual titles she did not think were possible. In her words, the progression "has kind of just been my wildest dreams." She broke the Australian record in the 800 at trials after only six to ten weeks with Dean, and she treats Pan Pacs, raced in front of an American crowd, as the first dress rehearsal for LA 2028.

Beisel asks what changed. Lani tells the story of speaking before Cate Campbell at a lunch, explaining that she dropped 10 seconds in about 10 weeks with Dean, before Campbell got up and said she dropped 0.3 in 14 years. She explains why buying into a coach makes it easy to swim well, why the change has been more mental than physical, how training alongside the male distance swimmers pushes her, and why teammate Jenna Forrester reminds her about accumulated fatigue after a bad session. There is a lighter detour too: she now makes Dean's coffee every second day.

For swimmers and parents curious about what a coaching change can do, this is how one of the best distance swimmers in the world rebuilt her career in 18 months. The full conversation with Lani is on the Unfiltered Waters channel and wherever you listen to podcasts.

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