Toronto’s Summer McIntosh began her competition at the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships by securing second place in the women’s 200-meter freestyle event in Irvine, California. The 19-year-old, participating in the championship for the first time, finished with a time of 1:53.86, trailing Australia’s Lani Pallister, who set a championship record of 1:53.67. Erika Fairweather from New Zealand claimed the third spot with a time of 1:55.05.
Reflecting on her performance, McIntosh expressed some self-criticism, stating, “I don’t think I started fast enough. My turns were not perfect, and I believe I was overthinking instead of just focusing on the race.” Despite the disappointment, she remains optimistic, emphasizing the need to learn and progress towards her ultimate goal of winning at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
During the race, Pallister initially led McIntosh by a narrow margin, but McIntosh took the lead at the 100-meter mark. However, Pallister regained the lead at the 150-meter mark, ultimately securing the victory.
McIntosh had not competed in the 200 freestyle at an international level since the 2023 world championships. She emphasized that training for the 200 freestyle aligns well with her weekly schedule as a 400 freestyler.
In addition to the 200 freestyle event, McIntosh will also participate in the 200 individual medley, 400 freestyle, and 400 individual medley in Irvine. She aims to achieve a time of 1:52 in the 200 freestyle, currently held by retired swimmer Titmus since the Australian Olympic trials in 2024.
McIntosh holds world records in the 200 butterfly, 200 individual medley, 400 freestyle, and 400 individual medley in long-course competitions. After recovering from an illness, she is fully prepared for the Pan Pacific Championships.
In the men’s 100-meter backstroke, Saskatoon’s Blake Tierney clinched the gold medal with a time of 53.18 seconds, surpassing his competitors Will Modglin and Jack Aikins.
Tierney expressed his satisfaction with the win, acknowledging that there is room for improvement despite his strong performance. This victory marks his first international gold medal.
Taylor Ruck contributed to Canada’s medal tally by winning bronze in the women’s 50-meter butterfly and 100-meter backstroke events. She set a Canadian record in the 50-meter butterfly and demonstrated a strong performance throughout the competition.
Ruck’s success continued as she earned another bronze in the 100-meter backstroke final, showcasing her determination and competitive spirit. She highlighted the positive energy and support from her coach as key factors in her performance.
To conclude the day, the Canadian 4×100 medley relay team, consisting of Ruck, Ingrid Wilm, Oliver Dawson, and Finlay Knox, secured the bronze medal with a final time of 3:43.22. The United States and Australia claimed the gold and silver medals in the event, respectively.