Toronto’s Summer McIntosh kicked off her race lineup 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, making her debut at the event, finished in 1:53.86, just behind Australia’s Lani Pallister, who set a championship record with a time of 1:53.67. Erika Fairweather from New Zealand took third place with a time of 1:55.05.
After the race, McIntosh expressed her thoughts, stating that she felt she didn’t start fast enough and that her turns were not optimal. She believed she was overthinking rather than focusing on racing. Despite the disappointment, she acknowledged that she has room for improvement and is determined to work towards her goal of winning at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
Throughout the race, McIntosh and Pallister exchanged the lead, with McIntosh taking the lead at 100 meters but ultimately falling behind in the final stretch. This event marked McIntosh’s first international 200 freestyle race since the 2023 world championships.
McIntosh, who chose not to compete in the 200 butterfly, will also participate 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 and aims to break the world record set by Titmus at the Australian Olympic trials in 2024.
In another event, Saskatoon’s Blake Tierney clinched the gold medal in the men’s 100m backstroke at the championships. Tierney finished in 53.18 seconds, narrowly beating out his competitors. This victory marked Tierney’s first international gold medal and showcased his dedication to training.
In the women’s events, Taylor Ruck secured bronze medals in the 50m butterfly and the 100m backstroke. Ruck set a Canadian record in the 50m butterfly with a time of 25.23 seconds. She continued her success by earning another bronze in the 100m backstroke final.
To conclude the day, the Canadian 4×100 medley relay team, consisting of Ruck, Ingrid Wilm, Oliver Dawson, and Finlay Knox, claimed the bronze medal. The United States secured gold with a world-record time, followed by Australia in the silver position.
The Pan Pacific Swimming Championships provided an exciting platform for Canadian swimmers to showcase their talent and determination on the international stage.