After only over two months at Surrey Park Swimming, Olympian Janelle Pallister has accepted a coaching post at Kawana Waters Swimming Club.
As revealed on the Kawana Waters Facebook page earlier this week, Pallister, mom of Olympian and world record holder Lani Pallister, will be joining her new base the week of November 24th.
The club’s post reads, “A former Olympian and one of Australia’s most respected coaches, Janelle started her coaching journey at Kawana before running successful programs at Buderim and Cotton Tree, and spending the last five years with Michael Bohl on the Gold Coast.
“She’s guided athletes to national and international success, including members of the Australian Dolphins and her daughter, Lani.”
On her new position, Pallister commented, “It’s great to be coming back to the Sunshine Coast to Kawana Waters, where my coaching journey first started. I’m looking forward to reconnecting with the community and meeting all the families.”
It was just this past August that Pallister accepted the head coaching role at Surrey Park Swimming, following her tenure at Griffith University Swimming Club, first under Michael Bohl and then under Mel Marshall.
While at Griffith, she served as head national age coach (January 2021 to January 2022), then co-coach of the high-performance squad, before being promoted to associate head coach this past January.
Pallister has prior head coaching experience, having led the Cotton Tree program on the Sunshine Coast from September 2018 to September 2021.
Pallister, who competed under her maiden name Janelle Elford, finished 5th in the 400 free and 6th in the 800 free at the 1988 Olympics. She also collected medals in the 400 free, 800 free, and 4×200 free relay at the 1990 Auckland Commonwealth Games.
Unlucky for Surrey Park/Vic swimming in general, they’ve had a bad run with coaches in recent years.
this is a great move!
“As revealed on the Kawana Waters Facebook page earlier this week, Pallister, mom of Olympian and world record holder Lani Pallister”
Lani Pallister is not just an Olympian, she’s an Olympic gold medalist.
Should be pointed out that Janelle would have an Olympic bronze medal if we discount the East Germans. (are World Aquatics ever going to rectify these travesties? They’ve been asked many times).
OMG well done Kawana, massive boost for the local swimmers there.