Summer McIntosh of Toronto kicked off her competition at the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships by securing second place in the women’s 200-meter freestyle in Irvine, Calif. The 19-year-old finished with a time of 1:53.86, just behind Australia’s Lani Pallister who set a championship record of 1:53.67. Erika Fairweather from New Zealand claimed third place with a time of 1:55.05 at the William Woollett Jr. Aquatics Center.
McIntosh expressed her thoughts after the race, mentioning that she felt she could have been faster and had room for improvement. She acknowledged the need to work harder towards her goal of winning at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
In the race, Pallister initially led McIntosh by a small margin, but McIntosh managed to take the lead at the halfway point. However, Pallister surged ahead in the final stretch, ultimately finishing ahead of McIntosh.
Prior to this event, McIntosh had not competed in the 200 free internationally since the 2023 world championships. She mentioned the seamless integration of training for the 200 freestyle into her weekly routine as a 400 freestyler.
McIntosh, who opted out of the 200 butterfly event, is set to 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, aiming to beat the world record set by Titmus at the Australian Olympic trials in 2024.
McIntosh, a record holder in multiple long-course events, recently overcame illness to prepare for the Pan Pacific Championships. Her performance in Irvine signifies her dedication and determination in the pool.
In the men’s 100m backstroke, Blake Tierney from Saskatoon clinched the gold medal with a strong finish, crossing the finish line in 53.18 seconds. This victory marks Tierney’s first international gold medal, reflecting the payoff of his rigorous training regimen.
Taylor Ruck, a seasoned swimmer from Kelowna, secured a bronze medal in the women’s 50m butterfly final, setting a new Canadian record with a time of 25.23 seconds. Ruck continued her success by earning another bronze in the 100m backstroke final later in the competition.
The Canadian team concluded the evening on a high note by winning bronze in the 4×100 medley relay. The team consisting of Ruck, Ingrid Wilm, Oliver Dawson, and Finlay Knox clocked in at 3:43.22, showcasing Canada’s strength in relay events.