QAS-supported swimmers have delivered a statement campaign on the road to LA 2028, starring in the Australian Dolphins’ most successful Pan Pacific Championships in California.
With 28 QAS-supported swimmers selected for the Dolphins team, Queensland talent featured prominently as Australia powered to 15 gold, 11 silver and nine bronze medals.
The campaign produced no shortage of memorable moments, headlined by Lani Pallister, Sam Short and Moesha Johnson.
Lani Pallister produced one of the performances of the Championships, defeating four-time Olympic champion and world record holder Katie Ledecky in the 800m freestyle.
Touching in a Championship Record of 8:06.10, Pallister handed Ledecky her first international defeat over 800m and capped a brilliant meet that included individual gold in the 200m and 400m freestyle and silver in the 1500m.
“This is the one that I wanted,” Pallister said.
“Today is the most nervous I’ve ever felt in my entire life. I was just so locked in, and I’ve been really focused on what I want.”
Sam Short also delivered a statement campaign, sweeping the 400m, 800m and 1500m freestyle titles on his way to being named Male Swimmer of the Meet.
Short saved one of his biggest performances for the final night, clocking 14:33.97 in the 1500m to break Grant Hackett’s 25-year Australian record, as well as the Pan Pacs Championships Record.
“That was just straight guts and just enjoying the race. So I’m pretty proud of that,” Short said.
“I am proud of my consistency… come Olympics [and] World Championships, all I need to do is be my average and be contending for some podium places.”
World champion Moesha Johnson continued her outstanding season in open water, winning the women’s 10km in 1:55:33 to deliver Australia its first-ever Pan Pacs open water gold medal.
Johnson backed up the historic victory in the pool, adding a bronze in the 1500m freestyle.
The records continued to fall across the QAS contingent, with Jamie Jack, in his first year representing the senior Australian Dolphins team, claiming gold in the 50m freestyle in 21.35 and lowering the Championships Record he had set in the heats.
“It’s awesome, that’s the best I could ask for,” Jack said.
“I’ve felt very comfortable with it, honestly, which I’ve been really surprised by. Having been around such a high-quality squad back in Australia, I’m very accustomed to how it feels. I just wanted to continue my process and do what I can do and let the results show.”
Ben Armbruster also struck gold in the 50m butterfly, clocking a Championship Record 22.75 just 0.02 seconds outside the Australian record he shares with Kyle Chalmers and Matt Targett.
In the women’s 4x200m freestyle, QAS-supported trio Lani Pallister, Hannah Casey and Milla Jansen combined with WAIS athlete Inez Miller to claim gold in another Championship Report, touching in 7:42.20.
All QAS-supported swimmer results:
GOLD
• Moesha Johnson – 10km open water – 1:55:33
• Ben Armbruster – 50m butterfly – 22.75 CR
• Lani Pallister – 200m freestyle – 1:53.67 CR
• Sam Short – 800m freestyle – 7:37.02 CR
• Meg Harris – 100m freestyle – 52.60
• Women’s 4x200m freestyle – Lani Pallister, Hannah Casey and Milla Jansen – 7:42.40 CR
• Lani Pallister – 400m freestyle – 3:58.42
• Sam Short – 400m freestyle – 3:40.52 CR
• Jamie Jack – 50m freestyle – 21.35 CR
• Sam Short – 1500m freestyle – 14:33.97 CR
• Lani Pallister – 800m freestyle – 8:06.10 CR
SILVER
• Lizzy Dekkers – 200m butterfly – 2:06.56
• Lani Pallister – 1500m freestyle – 15:38.62
• Mixed 4x100m medley – Meg Harris – 3:39.30
• Jenna Forrester – 400m individual medley – 4:31.50
• Isaac Cooper – 50m backstroke – 24.59
• Men’s 4x200m freestyle – Max Giuliani, Kai Taylor, Charlie Hawke and Sam Short – 7:01.10
• Ben Armbruster – 100m butterfly – 50.59
• Women’s 4x100m freestyle – Meg Harris, Alexandria Perkins and Milla Jansen – 3:31.11
• Men’s 4x100m freestyle – Kai Taylor, Jamie Jack, Ed Sommerville and Harrison Turner – 3:09.57
• Women’s 4x100m medley – Alexandria Perkins and Meg Harris – 3:55.09
BRONZE
• Harrison Turner – 200m butterfly – 1:54.44
• Ben Goedemans – 800m freestyle – 7:44.67
• Moesha Johnson – 1500m freestyle – 15:53.49
• Alexandria Perkins – 100m butterfly – 56.75
• Meg Harris – 50m freestyle – 23.89
CR = Championships Record.
Next up: Para Pan Pacs
The green and gold action continues in California with the 2026 Para Pan Pacific Championships, where 19 QAS-supported swimmers will represent the Australian Dolphins alongside QAS performance support staff.
With LA 2028 just two years away, the Para Pan Pacs provide another major international test for Australia’s leading Para swimmers.
