Why Elite Swimmer Lonnie Pallister Throws Up After Races

Lani Pallister throws up after races, and when it happens, it happens fast. Katie Hoff Anderson and Elizabeth Beisel ask the Olympic gold medalist how it felt to race Katie Ledecky in the 800 at Pan Pacs a year after their battle in Singapore, and the answer turns into the story of why Australian officials now hand her a vomit bag at the end of her lane.

She starts with Singapore last year: a mid-season move to Dean Boxall's squad, best times at trials, and an 800 final she went into not knowing what to expect. The story everyone was watching was Katie versus Summer, "but there was just an extra person in it." Twelve months later she knew she had already raced Ledecky head to head and gone 8:05, and the only frustration at Pan Pacs was touching 0.12 over her best time.

The bigger problem came after the finish. Crouched on the wall, she was trying her hardest not to throw up while Ledecky waited to congratulate her. For Lani it is never a slow build: "It's like a touch the wall instant, like it's gonna go." She swam for 21 years without ever vomiting, then it started in 2023, after a 1500, a 200 at Olympic trials and an 800 at Nationals this year, and it now happens most weeks on a Monday afternoon in training. She also tells the story of the first time, when there was no bag and she was not allowed out of the pool until everyone had finished, with Sam and Elijah standing behind the blocks waiting to swim their 800.

It ends on the moment after: Ledecky hugging her and telling her she was really happy for her, and why racing someone that kind is hard. The full conversation with Lani is on the Unfiltered Waters channel and wherever you listen to podcasts.

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