Toronto’s Summer McIntosh began her competition at the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships by securing second place in the women’s 200-meter freestyle in Irvine, California. The 19-year-old, making her debut at the event, finished the race in 1 minute 53.86 seconds, just behind Australia’s Lani Pallister who set a championship record of 1:53.67. New Zealand’s Erika Fairweather came in third with a time of 1:55.05 at the William Woollett Jr. Aquatics Center.
Reflecting on her performance, McIntosh expressed a desire for a faster start and better turns, feeling that she may have overthought the race instead of just letting it unfold naturally. Despite the disappointment, McIntosh remains focused on her long-term goal of winning at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles and sees every race as a stepping stone towards that achievement.
In the race, Pallister initially led McIntosh by a narrow margin, but McIntosh took the lead at the halfway mark before Pallister reclaimed it in the final stretch. McIntosh had not competed in the 200 freestyle on the international stage since the 2023 world championships and mentioned that training for this event seamlessly fit into her routine as a 400 freestyler.
McIntosh, who chose not to participate in the 200 butterfly, will also compete in the 200 individual medley, 400 freestyle, and 400 individual medley in Irvine. She qualified for the 200 free final with a time of 1:55.85, aiming to break the world record held by Titmus at 1:52.23.
Furthermore, McIntosh currently holds world records in the 200 butterfly, 200 individual medley, 400 freestyle, and 400 individual medley in long-course swimming. Following a period of recovery and preparation, she entered the Pan Pacific Championships in peak condition.
In the men’s competition, Saskatoon’s Blake Tierney clinched gold in the 100m backstroke with a strong finish, clocking in at 53.18 seconds. Tierney expressed satisfaction with his performance but acknowledged room for improvement, emphasizing the importance of continued training and development.
Taylor Ruck contributed to Canada’s medal tally by winning bronze in the women’s 50m butterfly final and later adding another bronze in the 100m backstroke final. She set a new Canadian record in the 50m butterfly and displayed a strong performance throughout the competition.
Ruck also competed in the 100m backstroke, securing another bronze medal. Additionally, she was part of the Canadian 4×100 medley relay team, along with Ingrid Wilm, Oliver Dawson, and Finlay Knox, which secured a bronze medal to conclude the evening.
The event saw impressive performances from various swimmers, including McIntosh, Tierney, and Ruck, showcasing Canada’s strength in international swimming competitions.