Dawn Fraser embraces goddaughter after record-breaking swim
Swimming superstar Lani Pallister has set a new national record in the women's 800m freestyle at the Australian swim trials for the upcoming world championships.
Pallister clocked a brilliant 8.10.84, which bettered Ariarne Titmus' previous benchmark of 8.12.29 set when winning Olympic silver last year.
Australian icon Dawn Fraser was in the stands in Adelaide and was among the first to congratulate her goddaughter on the record.
Photos emerged of the pair embracing in a heartwarming moment.
Fraser looked in good spirits, six months on from the devastating fall that saw her spend time in ICU. Dawn Fraser and Lani Pallister embrace after the record-breaking swim. Credit: Getty
The 87-year-old has recovered after breaking ribs and a major hip bone when she tripped on an unfinished driveway at her home in Noosa.
Palister's record came just two months after joining coach Dean Boxall who also guides Titmus, who remains on a post-Olympic break.
'That's an Australian record I have wanted for a long time, since making my first team in 2022,' said Pallister.
The 23-year-old also sent a classy message to Titmus.
'It's kind of bitter-sweet not having her in the pool at this moment,' she said.
'She's done so much for women's swimming internationally, but also just everything she's done for Australian swimming.
'So I think I have a lot to thank her for with what she's done in inspiring me as an athlete. I've been able to travel with her and watch how she conducts herself.'
Meanwhile, Kyle Chalmers posted the third-quickest men's 100m freestyle time in the world this year at the trials on Thursday night.
He also owns the second-fastest time in what is supposed to be a post-Olympic let-down of a year.
'I'm not here with pressure and expectation; anything I achieve from this point is just icing on the cake of my career,' Chalmers said.
'I'm stoked my body is feeling this good.
'And that's why I want to capitalise on it while I can because I know it's not going to feel this good forever.' Kyle Chalmers, waving to the crowd after his latest win, has never been happier or healthier. Credit: AAP
Chalmers won gold in the event at the 2016 Olympics and silver at the following two Games - at last year's Paris edition he touched in 47.48.
'I'm physically, mentally and emotionally in a great place,' the 26-year-old said.
'When all of those buckets are topped up, I can swim well.'
Chalmers' latest triumph came after Kaylee McKeown posted the fastest women's 200m backstroke time of the year at the Adelaide trials.
Unlike Chalmers, she dismissed the feat as irrelevant ahead of the world titles in Singapore starting July 27.
'It doesn't matter what you do here, it depends what you do on the day in an international meet,' McKeown said after finishing in two minutes 04.47 seconds, some 1.33 seconds outside her world record.
'I could be doing world records here, get to an international meet and come in last, so it really doesn't matter.
'I have just got to get my mind right and see what I can do in a few weeks' time.'
The five-time Olympic gold medallist won all three backstroke events in Adelaide, over 50m, 100m and 200m.
She now has a shot at repeating her unprecedented achievement from the 2023 worlds in Japan when she became the first female to win three golds in any stroke over 50m, 100m and 200m at an international meet.
But in a shock result in the women's 200m butterfly, Paris Olympian Lizzy Dekkers missed out.
Dekkers, who finished fourth in the Olympic final, was third behind Brittany Castelluzzo (2:06.91) and Abbey Connor (2:07.14) who both qualified for the worlds.
In the men's 200m individual medley, 25-year-old David Schlict (1:58.10) shaded William Petric by 0.15 seconds - both also made the world championship team.
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