Australia – Lani Pallister, the 2024 Paris Olympic gold medalist, has decided not to attend the University of Florida as planned after facing eligibility issues with the NCAA. The Australian swimmer, who had committed to the Gators in 2023, initially intended to join the class of 2028 this fall. However, during the Paris Olympics, she received an email from the NCAA indicating that she was not eligible to compete due to a requirement to return all prize money she had ever earned.
Pallister, who was set to swim the 1500 free as one of the top seeds and a strong contender for a medal, was forced to scratch from that event after testing positive for COVID-19. Despite this setback, she later redeemed herself by contributing to Australia’s victory in the women’s 4×200 free relay, which not only secured gold but also set a new Olympic record. She continued her Olympic campaign by swimming in the 800 free, where she finished 6th overall.
The next day, Pallister received the unexpected email from the NCAA regarding her eligibility, stating that she needed to return her prize money to qualify. In response, she firmly declined this request. Instead of moving to Florida, Pallister has chosen to remain in Australia, focusing on her training. Last month, she participated in the Australian Trials, where she showcased her talent by achieving personal bests in multiple events. She secured first place in the 400 free, 800 free, and 1500 free, with her 1500 free time making her the 3rd fastest performer of all time and second in the world for the year, trailing only behind Katie Ledecky.
If Pallister had made the move to Florida, she would have had the opportunity to train alongside top athletes, including Olympic champions Ledecky and Bobby Finke. As she continues her training in Australia, Pallister is already being eyed by several top programs, demonstrating her promising future in the sport.
