Paris Olympics: The heartwarming reason Aussie legend Dawn Fraser couldn’t control her emotions as she watched the women’s 4x200m freestyle relay team won gold

Swimming icon Dawn Fraser beamed with pride as Australia clinched the gold in the women’s 4x200m freestyle relay final in Paris, now revealed to have an additional emotional depth as one of the winning athletes is her goddaughter.

Lani Pallister, who had to pull out of the earlier 1500m freestyle heats due to a Covid-19 positive test, was uncertain about her ability to compete.

Fortunately, she was deemed fit to swim and joined her teammates Mollie O’Callaghan, Brianna Throssell, and Ariarne Titmus to secure gold, finishing ahead of the US and China.

‘I shed a lot of tears when I tested positive for Covid; I genuinely feared I would miss out on the relay altogether,’ Pallister reflected after her race.

‘The AOC medical staff took excellent care of me and the other athletes affected by Covid on the Australian team.

‘Standing here with the girls, I couldn’t wish for anything more from my Olympic experience.’

Fraser, a remarkable athlete who won gold in the 100m freestyle at three consecutive Olympics from 1956 to 1964, understands the challenges Pallister has faced throughout her athletic journey.

Tears of joy filled Fraser’s eyes in the stands as Australia’s female swimmers continued to shine in the La Defense Arena.

Swimming icon Dawn Fraser (right) was filled with pride after Australia captured gold in the women’s 4x200m freestyle relay final in Paris – the triumph held special meaning

Lani Pallister (right), who had to withdraw from the earlier 1500m freestyle heats after testing positive for Covid, was uncertain if she would be cleared to compete in the relay – she is also Dawn Fraser’s goddaughter

Australia’s dominating quartet secured gold over the US and China in the 4x200m freestyle relay at the La Defense Arena (Pallister is pictured left)

Before her battle with Covid, Pallister triumphed over an eating disorder and underwent heart surgery to qualify for the Olympics.

She previously aimed to secure a spot on the Olympic team for the Tokyo Games in 2021 but was diagnosed with supraventricular tachycardia, a heart condition characterized by an elevated or irregular heartbeat.

The athlete from Sydney also struggled with a hidden eating disorder.

At one point, she maintained a diet of only two meals a day and consistently compared herself to other swimmers.

Pallister, the Olympic newcomer, is guided by her mother, Janelle, a Seoul 1988 Olympian and gold medallist at the Auckland 1990 Commonwealth Games.

Pallister is set to compete in the women’s 800m freestyle heats on Friday AEST.