Lani Pallister Returns to SwimSwam Podcast After Historic Ledecky Defeat, 10-Medal Summer Haul

Lani Pallister had perhaps one of the most successful summers in history in terms of medals won. She went to the Commonwealth Games and was dominant, winning the 400-800-1500 Free and helping Team AUS to gold in the 4x200. She also earned silver in the 200 free behind her teammate, Mollie O'Callaghan.

After her time in Glasgow, Pallister kept her momentum going in Irvine. On Night 1, she shocked Summer McIntosh by winning the 200 free, then finished 2nd in the 1500 Free to Katie Ledecky later in the same session. She went on to beat Ledecky in the 400 free and help Team AUS to another gold in the 4x200 free relay, but Pallister saved the best for last.

On the final night of competition, in the final women's race, Pallister dove into the pool against Ledecky in the 800 free and came out on top. Pallister led the race wire-to-wire and touched the wall first in 8:06.10 to Ledecky's 8:07.26, marking the first time in Ledecky's career that she had lost the race at an international competition.

Pallister ended her summer with 8 golds and 2 silvers from Comm Games and Pan Pacs combined, making history in multiple ways and asserting herself as arguably the best female distance swimmer in the world. SwimSwam was excited to have her back on the podcast in what ended up being a very fun, and perhaps a bit scattered, conversation. In this 80+ minute episode, we discuss her historic summer, along with many, many... many other topics.

0:00 Lani Pallister Introduction
4:12 Attending 2014 Nationals in Irvine
9:13 Racing Meg Harris in Life Saving
14:35 Vacation in Hollywood
18:01 Getting Katie Ledecky's Autograph
24:00 Aging in Swimming
29:55 Racing Butterfly
37:39 Jenna Forrester Comm Games FLEX
39:55 Comm Games Taper
47:18 German Pre-Comm Games Camp
52:50 200/1500 Free Double at Pan Pacs
55:04 Better Season - Lani or Sam Short?
59:23 Racing Ledecky in 800 Free
1:05:36 What Now?
1:09:30 Walking in Brisbane Fashion Week
1:13:45 SCM Worlds
1:16:29 4x200 Free Relay
1:23:18 Outro