Aussie star’s Ledecky rivalry rooted in wild family connection
Exclusive: Australia’s newest swimming sensation, Lani Pallister, has been eagerly counting down the days to the Pan Pacific Championships.
Although the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow handed her a glittering array of hardware and a historic freestyle treble with gold in the 400m, 800m and 1500m events, Pallister has been craving a steeper level of competition.
Lani Pallister will compete in the Pan Pacifics Swimming Championships. Shokz
In Irvine, California she is going to get exactly that.
“I think all season the championship that I’ve been more excited for was Pan Pacs purely because the two girls in the world that are currently beating me in the 800 free, Summer [McIntosh] and Katie [Ledecky], neither of them were at the Commonwealth Games,” she said exclusively to nine.com.au.
“So I think you had some athletes whose biggest competitors were at the Commonwealth Games, so that was their priority, but I think for me - I love a challenge and I love racing.
“I think that’s why I am quite a successful athlete now, is that I’m so competitive, going and racing girls that are better than me inspires me and makes me want to be better, makes me hungry to get back into training and that sort of thing.”
The daughter of a swimming star Janelle Elford, Pallister explained that the dynamic with rival US legend Ledecky is rooted in a years-long connection.
Now 29, Ledecky blazed a trail for female distance swimmers and Pallister has been riding the wave ever since.
Now, a moment of lingering childhood “jealousy” with her mum will come full circle as Pallister lines up to race the American giant.
“Yeah, Pan Pacs will be awesome. It’s cool, my mum in 2014 actually presented Katie Ledecky her medal at Pan Pacs. I’ve got a photo of it somewhere too,” the Shokz athlete explained.
“My mum met Katie in 2014 and I remember watching her swim at US Nationals in 2014 earlier that year, and just being so excited that I got to watch her swim. Then being so jealous that my mum got to meet her and talk to her.
“I remember, even 12 years ago, that my mum said Katie was just the most incredible, humble and inspiring person then.
“To have that relationship with her now is really special. She’s so welcoming and so encouraging of female swimmers - particularly female distance swimmers - and she’s been such a big piece of making female distance swimming exciting and pushing the boundaries. Being part of that story now is cool.”
Pallister will finally get to fight her biggest competitors in Irvine. Vincent Thian
The Irvine swimming meet represents more than just the competition for Pallister, it’s a moment to catch up with all her international friends she’s met through the sport.
“I think everyone counts down to (Pan Pacifics). Like, yes, it is about the swimming and it is about wanting to push yourself as an athlete and be better, but you get those little moments outside of the pool as well.”
“Honestly, some of my best memories from Commonwealth Games and Olympics aren’t just the swimming moments...it’s the moments that are outside of the pool that you get to see friends and make funny memories.
“I’ve got so many friends from all over the world that I get to cherish for the rest of my life now, staying in contact with. I get to travel and see...I was texting (US star) Regan Smith and I was saying that I’m excited to see her this week. So, I think when we get to see friends at major meets, it’s like a yearly catch-up, we always have a lot of fun.
“That is what you attach yourself to post-career, like medals tarnish, records fall, all of that sort of thing.”
Coming off a record-breaking campaign in Glasgow, the Dolphins will regroup during one of their “hardest seasons” to try and shock the world and their biggest rivals on American soil.
“The team’s been incredible. I think we all travelled really well, we’ve had minimal sickness,” said Pallister.
Pallister is coming off a huge campaign in Glasgow. Getty Images
“Everyone’s excited to get up and race again this week, but it’s definitely one of the hardest seasons that we’ve had considering it’s such a close backup from Commonwealth Games to Pan Pacs.
“Usually, we wouldn’t have two major meets in a row, and we definitely wouldn’t typically go and race the Americans after we’ve had such a big week. It’s not normally everyone on the same playing field, but I know we’re all excited to go and give it a crack.”
Where is the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships 2026?
The 2026 Pan Pacifics Swimming Championships will be held over four days of competition at the William Woollett Aquatics Center in Irvine, California.
There will be 41 events and the event is held every four years.
Where can I watch the Pan Pacs?
The 2026 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships are live and free on the 9Network and 9Now from Irvine, California on Thursday August 13. Finals will take place daily from 12pm AEST on Channel 9 and 9Now.
Which Australian swimmers will be competing?
Leading the charge for the Dolphins will be team flag bearer Meg Harris, Lani Pallister, Sam Short, Zac Stubblety-Cook, Isaac Cooper, Kai Taylor, Sienna Toohey, Sam Williamson and Elijah Winnington.
Sam Short will be in action for Australia. Getty Images
Which countries participate in the Pan Pacs?
There are four core countries that participate in the Pan Pacs; Australia, Canada, Japan and the United States.
Historically, the name ‘Pacifics’ was from the competing countries’ geographical location in respect to the Pacific Ocean, and now there are extended invitations to other countries such as Argentina, Brazil and New Zealand.
Pan Pacs full schedule
Thursday, August 13 (Prelims and Finals)
- Mens and Womens 50 Butterfly
- Mens and Womens 200 Freestyle
- Mens and Womens 100 Backstroke
- Mens and Womens 200 Butterfly
- Mens 800 Freestyle
- Womens 1500 Freestyle
- Mens and Womens 50 Butterfly Final
- Mens and Womens 200 Freestyle Final
- Mens and Womens 100 Backstroke Final
- Mens and Womens 200 Butterfly Final
- Mens 800 Freestyle Final
- Womens 1500 Freestyle Final
- Mixed 400 Medley Relay Final
Friday, August 14 (Prelims and Finals)
- Mens and Womens 400 Individual Medley
- Mens and Womens 100 Freestyle
- Mens and Womens 100 Breaststroke
- Mens and Womens 50 Backstroke
- Mens and Womens 400 Individual Medley Final
- Mens and Womens 100 Freestyle Final
- Mens and Womens 100 Breaststroke Final
- Mens and Womens 50 Backstroke Final
- Mens and Womens 800 Freestyle Relay Final
Saturday, August 15 (Prelims and Finals)
- Mens and Womens 400 Freestyle
- Mens and Womens 100 Butterfly
- Mens and Womens 200 Backstroke
- Mens and Womens 50 Breaststroke
- Mens and Womens 400 Freestyle Final
- Mens and Womens 100 Butterfly Final
- Mens and Womens 200 Backstroke Final
- Mens and Womens 50 Breaststroke Final
- Mens and Womens 400 Freestyle Relay Final
Sunday, August 16 (Prelims and Finals)
- Mens and Womens 200 Individual Medley
- Mens and Womens 50 Freestyle
- Mens and Womens 200 Breaststroke
- Mens 1500 Freestyle
- Womens 800 Freestyle
- Mens and Womens 200 Individual Medley Final
- Mens and Womens 50 Freestyle Final
- Mens and Womens 200 Breaststroke Final
- Mens 1500 Freestyle Final
- Womens 800 Freestyle Final
- Mens and Womens 400 Medley Relay Final