Toronto’s Summer McIntosh made her debut at the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships in Irvine, California, with a second-place finish in the women’s 200-meter freestyle event. The 19-year-old clocked a time of 1:53.86, trailing behind Australia’s Lani Pallister, who set a championship record with a time of 1:53.67. Erika Fairweather from New Zealand secured the third spot with a time of 1:55.05 at the William Woollett Jr. Aquatics Center.
After the race, McIntosh expressed her thoughts to CBC Sports’ Devin Heroux, mentioning her room for improvement, stating she could achieve a faster time. Despite the disappointment of not claiming the top spot, she remains focused on her long-term goal of winning at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
During the race, Pallister initially led McIntosh by a small margin, but McIntosh took the lead at the 100-meter mark before Pallister regained the lead in the final stretch. This race marked McIntosh’s return to the 200 free event on the international stage since the 2023 world championships.
In addition to the 200 free, McIntosh will also compete in the 200 individual medley, 400 free, and 400 IM in Irvine. She qualified for the 200 free final with a time of 1:55.85, aiming to break the world record of 1:52.23 set by Titmus in 2024.
McIntosh, known for her exceptional talent, holds multiple world records in long-course events. Following a record-breaking performance in the 200 butterfly at the Canadian trials, McIntosh withdrew due to illness but has since recovered and is now fully prepared for the Pan Pacs.
In other events, Canadian swimmer Blake Tierney claimed the gold in the men’s 100m backstroke, showcasing his prowess with a time of 53.18 seconds. This victory marked Tierney’s first international gold medal, and he expressed his satisfaction with his performance post-race.
Furthermore, Taylor Ruck contributed to Canada’s medal tally with a bronze in the women’s 50m butterfly and another bronze in the 100m backstroke final. Ruck set a Canadian record in the 50m butterfly and displayed a strong competitive spirit throughout the competition.
The evening concluded with the Canadian 4×100 medley relay team, consisting of Ruck, Ingrid Wilm, Oliver Dawson, and Finlay Knox, securing a bronze medal. The United States clinched the gold with a world-record time, followed by Australia in the silver position. Canada’s performance at the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships showcases the nation’s swimming talent on the international stage.