Summer McIntosh clinched her first-ever gold medal at the Pan Pacific swimming event in Irvine, California, outpacing Australia’s Jenna Forrester in the women’s 400-meter individual medley in record-breaking time. The Toronto athlete completed the race in four minutes and 28.01 seconds, setting a new championship record. Forrester secured the silver medal with a time of 4:31.50, while Agostina Hein from Argentina claimed the bronze in 4:32.54. The previous Pan Pacific record was held by American Elizabeth Beisel since 2014.
McIntosh expressed her satisfaction with the race, mentioning that despite feeling capable of more, she was pleased to win the gold for Canada. The Canadian national anthem brought enthusiasm from the crowd, especially a group of young spectators who cheered loudly. McIntosh highlighted the joy of performing in front of fans and inspiring others with her performances.
Later in the evening, McIntosh contributed to Canada’s bronze medal in the women’s 4×200 freestyle relay. The Canadian team, with Mary-Sophie Harvey leading, finished in 7:52.74, behind Australia and the United States who claimed the top two spots. McIntosh emphasized the team’s goal of consistently reaching the podium leading up to the 2028 Olympics.
In other events, Tristan Jankovics and Lorne Wigginton represented Canada in the men’s 400 IM, finishing 7th and 8th respectively. Japan’s Tomoyuki Matsushita set a new championship record by winning the event. Taylor Ruck secured a fifth-place finish in the women’s 100 free. The competition saw Meg Harris from Australia winning the event, with Ruck also showcasing her talent in other races throughout the event.
The competition also featured strong performances from University of Calgary swimmer Alexanne Lepage and teammate Sophie Angus in the women’s 100 breaststroke. Lepage achieved a personal best time, while Angus, who recently won her first individual Commonwealth Games medal, demonstrated her potential in the event. McKenzie Siroky of the U.S. emerged as the top finisher in the women’s 100 breaststroke.
Several other Canadian athletes participated in various events, with notable results including Ingrid Wilm, Oliver Dawson, Javier Acevedo, and team performances in relay events. The Canadian contingent showed determination and promising performances throughout the competition.
