From despair to delight: Lani Pallister reflects on 'rollercoaster' Olympic campaign

Australian swimmer Lani Pallister has reflected on her whirlwind Olympic campaign in the pool in which she won gold with the women's 4x200m freestyle team.

At her debut Games, Pallister's program was nearly over before it began after she contracted COVID-19 and was forced to withdraw from her 1500m freestyle heat.

"I know, it's wild and I think when I caught COVID-19 at the start of the of the week I didn't think I'd be part of that relay," Pallister told Nine's TODAY.

READ MORE: Eight magical days in, Australia is in reach of the unthinkable

READ MORE: More Aussie medals after tennis gold, pool DQ

READ MORE: Tiny nation wins 100m sprint after icon's mystery absence

"I've been on relay camps with [teammates] Ariarne and Brianna since 2018, and it has really been a wild journey the whole way."

Pallister described how she experienced a mild headache for two days before her symptoms got progressively worse.

"I did two PCR tests and they were both negative," she said.

"On the third day, I should have tested again but I was like, 'I'm fine, I'm just being dramatic'.

Watch every moment, every medal of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 live and free on Channel 9 and 9Now. Plus, every event streaming ad free, live and on demand with 4K on Stan Sport. 

"Then it was the fourth day that I ended up testing positive and that was the day before the 1500m ... Literally like late morning before the 1500m freestyle heat.

"Not ideal."

She continued: "I called the doctor and asked him to get me a RAT test. Initially, there was no line, like the test had gone all the way through and it was fine.

"We were just sitting there chatting in the room about options of what was going on and then I looked over at the test again and there was a faint line."

Unfortunately, this is not the first time illness has cruelled Pallister's medal hopes at a major competition.

"It reminded me — I caught COVID-19 in 2022 at the World Championships as well, so I ended up pulling out of the 800m freestyle final. I was seeded second going into the final there," she said.

"So, it was deja vu of everything."

The 22-year-old was also unwell with influenza for the Australian Olympic trials for Tokoyo 2020 and ahead of the Paris 2024 trails earlier this year.

Asked how she dealt with the latest setback, Pallister explained how her focus shifted to the women's 4x200m relay knowing she would have to fight for a spot in the final.

"I cried a lot," she said.

"I ended up calling Bohly (coach Michael Bohl) and my Mum and we had a discussion about whether or not it was worth doing the 1500m with the depth that we have in the 4x200m.

"I think all six of us swimmers [who contested the heat and final] could have made almost any relay team in the world.

"So, being top four in Australia is hard enough as it is being healthy let alone having COVID-19 and I didn't really know how my body would react had I done the heat and the final of the 15,000m [first]."

Ultimately, it proved the best decision for her as she swam 0.2 slower than her personal best in the heat to retain her spot for the gold-medal dash.

Pallister has overcome a difficult three-year period.

"I'd like to say it's been smooth sailing but it's been the biggest rollercoaster ever. Like, I missed the Australian team in 2021 and went through heart surgery and an eating disorder which I've been fairly public about.

"I had the year of my life in '22 and then raced pretty awful last year. So, when I finally made the Olympic team, that was just, I don't have any words for that moment.

"I am truly proud of what I have achieved here and I'm excited to go forward again."

Pallister finished eighth in the 800m freestyle final on Sunday morning.