McKeon, Pallister & Ramsay – Second-Generation Olympians Stamp Their Paris Tickets
Three second-generation Olympians made their way onto the Australian team for Paris on the first night of the Australian Olympic trials in Brisbane: Lani Pallister, the daughter of 1988 Olympian Janelle Elford, and Ella Ramsay, the daughter of 2000 Olympic Heath Ramsay, will both make their Olympic debuts in Paris while Emma McKeon, daughter of 1980 and 1984 Olympian Ron McKeon, will attend her third Olympics.
Pallister, who missed qualifying for the Tokyo Games three years ago while struggling with an eating disorder, was the most emotional qualifier of the night after the ordeal she endured during and after the Tokyo trials.
“Honestly, I feel like you can’t really put it into words,’’ she said after finishing second in the 400m freestyle in 4:02.27, just outside her best time.
“When I finally saw my Mum I cried a little bit. When Ellie (Cole) told me that I’m gonna become an Olympian, I cried. So yeah, going from three years ago where I quit swimming to now where I get to go to my first Olympics, it’s just incredible.”
“Every day for the past three years, me and my Mum talked about it and talked about the experience she had in 1988, so just getting an opportunity to experience something that she did too is just exciting.”
Asked whether she or her mother was most tearful, she replied:
“It could be my dad (former surf ironman Rick Pallister), could be any one of us. I think Mum has to keep a little bit more composed because she has to coach at the same time. If you had have told me three years ago that I’d be standing here, I wouldn’t have believed you.”
Pallister said she had used the lessons of her failed Olympic campaign last time to turn her fortunes around.
“(I learned) that eating is really important, in the most serious way possible,’’ she said.
“I still can’t believe that I thought that having one maybe two meals a day was going allow me to be an athlete. I think just getting in every day and not putting pressure on a time or a result, just really doing everything you can to be the best that you can be is another thing, and then really just enjoying the journey more than anything has been the greatest thing I’ve learned.”
Lani Pallister, Queen of the World Aquatics Cup 800 free in 2023
Versatile teenager Ramsay has qualified for her first Olympics at the age of 19, after setting a personal best of 2:09.32 to finish second behind world No.1 Kaylee McKeown in the 200m individual medley.
“I’m relieved, and just happy to have made the team on the first night,’’ she said after stamping her Paris ticket.
“My dad is here watching me, which means the world.’’
Ramsay will also contest the 400m individual medley,100m and 200m backstroke this week.
McKeon, Australia’s most decorated Olympian with 11 medals, including five gold, from her past two campaigns, reached her third Games with a win in the 100m butterfly.
The second-generation trend may continue this week, with Kai Taylor, the son of 1992 and 2000 Olympian Hayley Lewis in the mix in the 200m freestyle.
Day 1 Finals At Olympic Trials In Brisbane
Titmus Rattles Her WR With 3:55.44 Storm On Opening Night At Australian Olympic Trials
McKeown 2:06.63 Commonwealth 200IM Mark Confirms Dolphin A Flip For Paris Gold