Toronto’s Summer McIntosh commenced her racing schedule at the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships on Wednesday evening with a second-place finish in the women’s 200-meter freestyle in Irvine, California. The 19-year-old finished in 1:53.86, coming in just behind Australia’s Lani Pallister, who set a championship record with a time of 1:53.67. Erika Fairweather of New Zealand secured third place with a time of 1:55.05.
Reflecting on her performance, McIntosh expressed that she believed she could have started faster and improved her turns. Despite the disappointment, 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. However, Pallister surged ahead in the final stretch to claim the gold medal.
McIntosh, known for her prowess in the 400 freestyle, had not competed in the 200 free internationally since the 2023 world championships. She shared that training for the 200 free aligns well with her regular training regimen.
In addition to the 200 free, McIntosh will also compete in the 200 individual medley, 400 free, and 400 IM at the championships. She qualified for the 200 free final with a time of 1:55.85, aiming to beat the world record set by Titmus.
Furthermore, McIntosh holds world records in the 200 butterfly, 200 IM, 400 free, and 400 IM in long-course competitions. After overcoming illness, she is fully prepared for the Pan Pacs competition.
In the men’s events, Blake Tierney from Saskatoon clinched the gold in the 100m backstroke with a time of 53.18 seconds. Tierney expressed satisfaction with his performance but acknowledged areas for improvement.
Taylor Ruck also made an impressive showing, winning bronze in the women’s 50m butterfly and 100m backstroke events. Ruck set Canadian records in both races and praised the energy and competition at the championships.
The Canadian team capped off the day with a bronze in the 4×100 medley relay, with the United States and Australia taking gold and silver, respectively. The relay team included Ruck, Ingrid Wilm, Oliver Dawson, and Finlay Knox.