Toronto’s Summer McIntosh kicked off her events at the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships by securing second place in the women’s 200-metre freestyle in Irvine, California. The 19-year-old newcomer finished with a time of 1:53.86, trailing behind Australia’s Lani Pallister, who set a championship record at 1:53.67. Erika Fairweather from New Zealand claimed the third spot with a time of 1:55.05. McIntosh expressed some disappointment, feeling she could have performed better and aiming for improvement leading up to the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
During the race, Pallister initially led McIntosh by a small margin, but McIntosh took the lead at the 100-metre mark before being surpassed by Pallister towards the end. McIntosh had not competed in the 200 free internationally since the 2023 world championships but felt her training for the 400 freestyle complemented her preparation for the 200 free.
Additionally, McIntosh holds world records in various long-course events. She recently set a Canadian record in the 200 butterfly and has been focusing on her recovery and training for the Pan Pacific Championships. Meanwhile, Blake Tierney emerged victorious in the men’s 100m backstroke, claiming Canada’s first gold medal of the competition.
Taylor Ruck, another Canadian swimmer, secured two bronze medals in the women’s 50m butterfly and 100m backstroke events. Ruck also contributed to Canada’s success in the 4×100 medley relay, along with teammates Ingrid Wilm, Oliver Dawson, and Finlay Knox, securing a bronze medal. The United States dominated the relay, setting a world record time, while Australia finished in second place.