Toronto’s Summer McIntosh began her competition at the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships with a second-place finish in the women’s 200-meter freestyle in Irvine, California. The 19-year-old finished with a time of 1:53.86, just behind Australia’s Lani Pallister, who set a championship record with 1:53.67. New Zealand’s Erika Fairweather took third place with a time of 1:55.05 at the William Woollett Jr. Aquatics Center.
McIntosh expressed some disappointment after the race, mentioning that she felt she could have performed better. She acknowledged areas for improvement, particularly in her speed at the start and turns. Despite the outcome, McIntosh 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. However, Pallister managed to regain the lead and secure the victory.
Before the Pan Pacific Championships, McIntosh had not competed in the 200 freestyle internationally since the 2023 world championships. She also decided not to participate in the 200 butterfly event. McIntosh will continue to compete in the 200 individual medley, 400 free, and 400 IM in Irvine.
Additionally, McIntosh holds world records in several long-course events. She recently set a new women’s world record in the 200 butterfly at the Canadian trials. Following a brief illness, McIntosh recovered and prepared for the Pan Pacific Championships.
In other events, Blake Tierney of Saskatoon claimed gold in the men’s 100m backstroke, while Taylor Ruck from Kelowna secured bronze medals in the women’s 50m butterfly and 100m backstroke. Ruck also contributed to Team Canada’s success in the 4×100 medley relay, earning a bronze medal alongside Ingrid Wilm, Oliver Dawson, and Finlay Knox.
The United States and Australia dominated the relay events, with the U.S. team setting a world record in the 4×100 medley relay. Tierney, Ruck, and their teammates showcased strong performances at the championships, setting the stage for further success in their swimming careers.
