Swim star Lani Pallister reckons catching COVID for a fifth time in January was a good thing.
Why? Because at least it wasn't during a major meet.
"I got COVID in the third week of January," Pallister said after booking her berth at next month's Glasgow Commonwealth Games.
"But that hasn't really affected too much of this part of the season.
"It's probably my fifth time getting it, which is so random.
"But I figured: get it done at the start of the year and then it's out of the way ... and I'm happy with where I am at in training at the moment."
Pallister's Paris Olympics in 2024 were cruelled by COVID: she qualified for the 400m, 800m and 1500m freestyles but was forced to withdraw from all but the 800m.
She has since risen as a freestyle force with her latest victory on Monday night booking her berth at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games starting late next month.
Pallister won the women's 400m freestyle at Australia's swimming selection trials in Sydney - the first event of a taxing program when she will race all five freestyle events, from 100m to 1500m.
The 24-year-old gets a day off on Tuesday when Kaylee McKeown aims to extend her backstroke domination.
After winning the 50m backstroke on Monday night, the five-time Olympic gold medallist will contest the 100m in her pet discipline.
Sam Short, a day after setting a personal best in winning the men's 400m freestyle, is back in action in the 200m freestyle.
Young gun Sienna Toohey, 17, will seek to earn selection in the women's 100m breaststroke, and Alex Perkins, who won the women's 100m butterfly on Monday night, is favoured in the 50m 'fly.
