PIER PRESSURE
Champion Queensland teen takes on Victorian surf
Australian teen swim sensation Lani Pallister may only be 15, but the Sunshine Coast-based national age champion looms as a threat to Harriet Brown’s bid for Lorne Pier to Pub immortality.
LANI Pallister has never been to Victoria.
Nor has the 15-year-old Queenslander travelled to Lorne or competed in the prestigious GMHBA Pier to Pub.
But that will all change on Saturday when the rising star of the Australian swimming scene contests the world’s largest open water swim.
“I’m pretty excited,” Lani said yesterday.
“I’m down there for a surf carnival and my coach Jack Hansan said ‘while you’re down there, you might as well do it’.
“At the time I had no idea what it was but Jack was explaining that it was a pretty big ocean swim and he thought it would be good for me to do it.
“I know that Harriet Brown has won it six or seven times, but I’ve never thought of doing it because I’ve never been to Victoria.
“I’m not going to deal with the cold so well, but that’s OK.”
An accomplished swimmer in the pool and the surf, Lani has already built an impressive resume.
The Alexandra Headland Surf Life Saving Club product represented Australia in Pool Rescue in New Zealand and won six gold medals at Aussie Surf Championships in 2017.
Lani is also the national age champion in the 200, 400 and 800m freestyle and competed in the Junior World Championships in Indianapolis.
But the humble Sunshine Coast sensation has watered down talk that she will challenge six-time winner Harriet Brown for the women’s crown.
“I’m not really sure,” Lani said of her hopes for a podium finish.
“I’m just going into it as a training run. It’s just for fun and I don’t have any expectations or anything.
“I mean, Harriet is such a lovely girl and she’s such an amazing athlete and to come even close to her would put me over the moon.”