Summer McIntosh clinched her first gold medal at the Pan Pacific swimming competition by outperforming Jenna Forrester of Australia in the women’s 400-metre individual medley in Irvine, California. McIntosh set a championship record time of four minutes and 28.01 seconds, with Forrester finishing almost three seconds later for the silver and Agostina Hein of Argentina securing the bronze.
Previously held by American Elizabeth Beisel since 2014, McIntosh shattered the previous Pan Pacs record. In an interview with CBC’s Devin Heroux, McIntosh expressed her satisfaction at winning for Canada despite feeling she could have done better.
The crowd erupted with excitement as the Canadian national anthem played after McIntosh’s victory, particularly drawing cheers from enthusiastic young spectators. McIntosh, appreciative of the support, acknowledged the joy of performing for the audience and being part of such an inspiring environment.
Later in the evening, McIntosh contributed to Canada’s third-place finish in the women’s 4×200 freestyle relay. The Canadian team, including Mary-Sophie Harvey, Emma O’Croinin, and Brooklyn Douthwright, secured the bronze with a time of 7:52.74, trailing behind Australia and the United States.
Reflecting on her relay race experience, McIntosh expressed her delight, emphasizing the importance of team success. Looking ahead to the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, McIntosh aims to maintain Canada’s podium presence.
In other events, Tristan Jankovics and Lorne Wigginton represented Canada in the men’s 400 IM, while Taylor Ruck achieved fifth place in the women’s 100 free. The competition also witnessed impressive performances from Meg Harris of Australia and Alexanne Lepage of the University of Calgary.
Notable Canadian results included Ingrid Wilm and Oliver Dawson’s performances in various events, showcasing Canada’s strong presence in the international swimming arena.
