Toronto’s Summer McIntosh kicked off her race schedule at the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships in Irvine, California, by clinching second place in the women’s 200-meter freestyle event. The 19-year-old newcomer finished with a time of 1 minute 53.86 seconds, just shy of Australia’s Lani Pallister, who set a championship record at 1:53.67. Erika Fairweather from New Zealand secured the third spot with a time of 1:55.05. Reflecting on her performance, McIntosh admitted she could have started faster and mentioned that she was overthinking rather than racing instinctively. Despite the disappointment, she sees this as a learning opportunity on her journey towards the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
In the race, McIntosh trailed Pallister by 0.04 seconds after 50 meters but surged ahead by 0.12 seconds at the 100-meter mark. However, Pallister reclaimed the lead by 0.09 seconds at the 150-meter point. McIntosh, known for her prowess in the 400 freestyle, expressed that preparing for the 200 freestyle complements her training routine.
Before this event, McIntosh had not competed in the 200 free internationally since the 2023 world championships. She aims to achieve a time of 1:52, aiming to break the world record currently held by Titmus at 1:52.23.
In the men’s 100m backstroke, Blake Tierney from Saskatoon clinched the gold medal with a time of 53.18 seconds, surpassing his competitors in a thrilling finish. Tierney expressed his satisfaction with the win but acknowledged that there is still room for improvement.
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 continued her success by earning another bronze in the 100m backstroke. She emphasized the importance of energy and competition in her performance.
Additionally, Ruck was part of the Canadian 4×100 medley relay team, alongside Ingrid Wilm, Oliver Dawson, and Finlay Knox, who secured a bronze medal with a time of 3:43.22. The United States and Australia claimed gold and silver, respectively, in the relay event.
The Canadian team showcased strong performances across various events at the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships, setting the stage for an exciting competition ahead.