Summer McIntosh secured her first gold medal at the Pan Pacific swimming competition by triumphing over Jenna Forrester of Australia in championship record time in the women’s 400-metre individual medley in Irvine, Calif. McIntosh completed the butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke, and freestyle in four minutes and 28.01 seconds, setting a new standard. Forrester finished second, nearly three seconds behind, while Agostina Hein of Argentina claimed the bronze.
Previously held by American Elizabeth Beisel since 2014, McIntosh shattered the Pan Pacs record time of 4:31.99. Post-race, McIntosh expressed satisfaction with her performance but acknowledged room for improvement, emphasizing the learning experience gained from the race.
The Canadian national anthem elicited a spirited response from the crowd, particularly a group of enthusiastic youths in attendance, which McIntosh found heartwarming. Following the victory, McIntosh contributed to Canada’s bronze in the women’s 4×200 freestyle relay, showcasing her versatility and team spirit.
In the men’s 400 IM, Tristan Jankovics and Lorne Wigginton secured 7th and 8th place, respectively. Japan’s Tomoyuki Matsushita set a new championship record with a time of 4:06.75, surpassing Ryan Lochte’s previous mark. Taylor Ruck clinched a fifth-place finish in the women’s 100 free event.
Alexanne Lepage achieved a personal best in the women’s 100 breaststroke, coming close to the Canadian record. Other notable Canadian performances included Ingrid Wilm, Oliver Dawson, and Javier Acevedo in various events, showcasing the depth of Canadian talent in swimming.
