Lani Pallister has opened Australia’s medal tally at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games by winning the 400m freestyle.
Pallister clocked three minutes 59.56 seconds to easily beat the fastest qualifier, New Zealand’s Erika Fairweather.
Fellow Australian Jenna Forrester won the bronze medal.
While the only swimmer to go under four minutes in the final, Pallister was outside the Games record of 3:58.06 set by Ariarne Titmus in Birmingham.
The 24-year-old took out the first final of the Games swimming program early on Saturday morning (AEST) after qualifying second-fastest in the morning session.
One of the biggest names in Australia’s Glasgow team dominated her final after cruising through qualifying.
Pallister is also favourite to win the 800m and 1500m freestyle, and will also contest the 200m freestyle and the 4x200m freestyle relay.
She has overcome a series of health challenges to emerge as one of the new stars of Australian swimming.
After Covid-19 cruelled Pallister’s Paris Olympics – she qualified for the three distance freestyle events, but only managed to swim in the 800m – Glasgow looms as her breakout event.
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