Summer McIntosh clinched her first-ever gold medal at the Pan Pacific swimming competition, triumphing over Australia’s Jenna Forrester in the women’s 400-meter individual medley in Irvine, California. McIntosh set a championship record with a time of 4:28.01, outpacing Forrester by nearly three seconds who finished in 4:31.50 for silver. Agostina Hein from Argentina secured the bronze with a time of 4:32.54, breaking the previous record set by American Elizabeth Beisel in 2014.
After the race, McIntosh reflected on her performance, expressing satisfaction with her victory for Canada despite feeling she could have performed even better. The young athlete acknowledged the support from the enthusiastic crowd, especially a group of excited children in the stands who cheered her on during the event.
In another event, McIntosh contributed to Canada’s success in the women’s 4×200 freestyle relay, helping the team secure a bronze medal alongside her teammates Mary-Sophie Harvey, Emma O’Croinin, and Brooklyn Douthwright. The Canadian team finished with a time of 7:52.74, behind Australia and the United States who claimed the top spots.
The competition also saw notable performances from other Canadian swimmers, with Taylor Ruck finishing fifth in the women’s 100 freestyle event. Additionally, Alexanne Lepage achieved a personal best in the women’s 100 breaststroke, narrowly missing the Canadian record previously held by Annamay Pierse.
Overall, McIntosh’s stellar performance and Canada’s strong showing at the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships highlighted the country’s growing prowess in the sport, setting the stage for future successes leading up to the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.