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Lani Pallister rocked as Aussie swimmer forced to pull out of Paris Olympic Games event

Pallister was supposed to compete in the 1500m freestyle for Australia in Paris.

andrew reid
·3-min read

Australian distance swimmer Lani Pallister has been dealt a brutal setback on the fourth day of competition in the pool at the Paris Olympic Games after being forced to withdraw from the women's 1500m freestyle. Pallister was supposed to compete in the heats of the long-distance swimming event on Tuesday night (AEST) but pulled out at the eleventh hour after testing positive for Covid.

Pallister had already withdrawn from the 400m freestyle before the Paris Games got underway, so she could focus on a packed swimming program that also includes the 800m and 4x200m freestyle relay. Her spot in the 400m freestyle was taken by Jamie Perkins but Pallister has now had to pull out of the 1500m event as well, in a cruel blow for the 22-year-old.

Aussie swimmer Lani Pallister has been forced to withdraw from the 1500m freestyle at the Paris Olympics after testing positive for Covid. Pic: Getty
Aussie swimmer Lani Pallister has been forced to withdraw from the 1500m freestyle at the Paris Olympics after testing positive for Covid. Pic: Getty

Pallister was considered a medal chance in the 1500m freestyle - an event that has been dominated by American swimming great Katie Ledecky. It remains to be seen whether Pallister will still be able to compete as part of Australia's 4x200m freestyle relay team in the wake of the devastating news but it's understood her 1500m withdrawal was aimed at conserving energy for the relay.

The Aussies are set to race in the heats for the 4x200m freestyle relay on Thursday night, leaving Pallister with limited time to get back to her peak racing condition. The Australian Olympic Team confirmed news of Pallister's 1500m freestyle withdrawal on Tuesday night, with fans shattered for the luckless swimmer.

Pallister is isolating at the athletes' village, having travelled to the Paris La Defense Arena on Tuesday morning ahead of her scheduled heat swim in the 1500 free. But after warming up in the training pool, an off-colour Pallister decided to withdraw from the event.

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The 22-year-old remains hopeful of taking part in Australia's 4x200m freestyle relay team and has her heat for the 800m freestyle 24 hours later on Friday. The Sydneysider is coached by her mother Janelle Pallister, a Seoul 1988 Olympian and Auckland 1990 Commonwealth Games gold medallist, and is also the daughter of champion surf lifesaver and triathlete Rick Pallister.

Pictured right is Lani Pallister with other members of Australia's Olympic Games swimming team in Paris.
Lani Pallister (far right) is seen here with other members of Australia's Olympic Games swimming team in Paris. Pic: Getty

The swimmer has had a rocky path to the Paris Games, having undergone surgery for supraventricular tachycardia, which can cause an irregular heartbeat. Pallister has also returned to elite swimming after being diagnosed with an eating disorder. The 22-year-old's positive Covid test follows a number of similar cases arising from the athletes' village in Paris, with five members of Australia's women's water polo squad also contracting the virus before competition started at the Olympics.