AUSTRALIAS first gold medal was bagged by Lani Pallister who competed in the women’s 800 metres freestyle achieving a time of 8 minutes 29.65 seconds at the 2018 Junior Pan Pacific Swimming Championships at the Damodar City Aquatic Centre in Laucala Bay, Suva.
The 16-year-old said she achieved her personal best.
“I was trying to improve my time from a month ago and I am glad that one of my main goals in this tournament was achieved. I am completely over the moon with that,” said Pallister.
Pallister is also hoping to represent her country and be part of the 2020 Youth Olympics in Argentina.
“I hope to make it to the Olympics team and by getting there I will need to just drop my time and improving as well as fixing every little thing. That Olympic goal is driving me to do my best.”
In addition to winning the first gold medal for Australia, Pallister also helped her side claim the silver in the women’s 4×200 metres freestyle relay.
