Summer McIntosh, the current world record-holder in the women’s 400-meter freestyle event, fell short of qualifying for the A final at the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships in Irvine, California. Despite being in a promising position to secure a second-place finish behind Australia’s Lani Pallister in the morning heat, McIntosh was narrowly out-touched at the wall, settling for third place and ninth overall with a time of 4 minutes 8.56 seconds, which was 14 seconds slower than her record-breaking time. China’s 15-year-old swimmer, Fan Yaqi, clinched the eighth and final spot for the upcoming final with a time of 4:08.36.
The 19-year-old Canadian swimming sensation, hailing from Toronto, expressed her determination to compete in the B final scheduled for 10:01 p.m. along with her teammate Ella Cosgrove, who finished 13th overall. The live stream of the event will be accessible on CBCSports.ca and CBC Gem.
Taking accountability for her performance, McIntosh took to Instagram, acknowledging her misjudgment in the morning heats and expressing gratitude for the support received from her fans. Despite missing out on the A final, McIntosh remains focused on the upcoming B final.
In a remarkable performance last June at the Canadian swimming trials in Victoria, McIntosh set a new record of 3:54.18 in the 400-meter freestyle event, surpassing the previous record held by the retired Australian swimmer Ariarne Titmus. The much-anticipated A final at the William Woollett Jr. Aquatics Center was poised to showcase a fierce competition between American record-holder Katie Ledecky, Lani Pallister, and McIntosh. Ledecky secured the top spot in the qualifying rounds with a time of 4:03.48, while Pallister positioned fourth with a time of 4:05.22.
McIntosh’s debut at the Pan Pacifics on Wednesday saw her claim a silver medal in the women’s 200 free event, finishing just shy of Pallister who set a championship record. Following this, McIntosh continued to shine, breaking the championship record in the 400 individual medley and further contributing to a bronze medal win in the women’s 200 free relay alongside her teammates.
Looking ahead, McIntosh is set to compete in the 200 IM event on Saturday, showcasing her versatility and determination in the pool.