Toronto’s Summer McIntosh kicked off her Pan Pacific Swimming Championships debut with a second-place finish in the women’s 200-meter freestyle in Irvine, Calif. The 19-year-old finished in 1:53.86, just behind Australia’s Lani Pallister who set a championship record of 1:53.67. Erika Fairweather of New Zealand took third place with a time of 1:55.05 at the William Woollett Jr. Aquatics Center.
After the race, McIntosh expressed that she felt she didn’t start fast enough and had issues with her turns, attributing her performance to overthinking rather than racing. Despite her disappointment, she remains focused on her long-term goal of winning at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
Pallister initially led McIntosh by a small margin but McIntosh took the lead at the halfway mark. However, Pallister surged ahead in the final stretch to secure the victory.
McIntosh, primarily a 400-meter freestyler, mentioned that training for the 200 freestyle aligns well with her usual training schedule. She opted out of the 200 butterfly event but will compete in the 200 individual medley, 400 free, and 400 IM in Irvine.
Having set a personal goal of finishing in 1:52, McIntosh qualified for the 200 free final with a time of 1:55.85. The current world record of 1:52.23 is held by the retired Titmus since June 12, 2024.
In another event, Blake Tierney from Saskatoon clinched gold in the men’s 100m backstroke, with a winning time of 53.18 seconds. Tierney, who expressed satisfaction with his performance, emphasized the need for continued improvement despite his victory.
Taylor Ruck, from Kelowna, secured a bronze medal in the women’s 50m butterfly, setting a Canadian record with a time of 25.23 seconds. Ruck also added another bronze in the 100m backstroke final, contributing to Canada’s medal tally.
To conclude the day, the Canadian 4×100 medley relay team comprising Ruck, Ingrid Wilm, Oliver Dawson, and Finlay Knox won a bronze medal, finishing with a time of 3:43.22. The United States claimed gold with a world-record time of 3:36.70, followed by Australia in second place.
The performances at the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships showcased the talent and determination of Canadian swimmers, setting the stage for further success in the competition.