Toronto’s Summer McIntosh kicked off her competition at the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships by securing second place in the women’s 200m freestyle in Irvine, Calif. McIntosh, 19, finished the race in 1:53.86, slightly behind Australia’s Lani Pallister who set a championship record of 1:53.67. Reflecting on her performance, McIntosh acknowledged areas for improvement, mentioning that she believes she can achieve a time of 1:52. Despite feeling disappointed, she remains focused on her long-term goal of winning at the 2028 Olympics.
During the race, Pallister initially led McIntosh by a narrow margin, but McIntosh took the lead at the 100m mark before being overtaken by Pallister towards the end. McIntosh, a versatile swimmer, is known for excelling in various events such as the 200 butterfly, 200 IM, 400 free, and 400 IM. Her training regimen naturally aligns with the 200 freestyle due to her specialization in the 400 freestyle event.
McIntosh’s absence from competitive 200 free races prior to this event since the 2023 world championships was notable. She aims to break the world record set by Titmus at the Australian Olympics trials in 2024. McIntosh holds world records in the 200 butterfly, 200 IM, 400 free, and 400 IM in long-course swimming. Her recent focus has been on recovering and preparing for major competitions like the Pan Pacific Championships.
In another event, Blake Tierney from Saskatoon clinched the gold in the men’s 100m backstroke, showcasing his strong finish and earning his first international gold medal. Tierney expressed satisfaction with his performance but acknowledged room for improvement to enhance his closing speed. He currently holds the Canadian record in the event with a personal best of 52.95.
Taylor Ruck from Kelowna made her mark by winning bronze in the women’s 50m butterfly and 100m backstroke finals. Ruck set a Canadian record in the 50m butterfly, lowering her own mark from the preliminaries. She emphasized the positive energy and preparation that contributed to her success in both events.
The Canadian team’s success continued with a bronze in the 4×100 medley relay, comprising Ruck, Ingrid Wilm, Oliver Dawson, and Finlay Knox. The United States secured gold in the relay with a world-record time, followed by Australia in second place. Canada’s relay team displayed strong teamwork and performance, adding to the country’s medal count at the Pan Pacific Championships in Irvine, Calif.