Canadian swimming sensation Summer McIntosh narrowly missed out on claiming the gold medal by a mere 0.02 seconds in the women’s 200-meter individual medley at the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships. The Toronto native, who holds both Olympic and world titles, settled for silver behind China’s Yu Yiting, who set a championship record with a time of 2:07.45. American Alex Walsh secured the bronze with a time of 2:07.66.
Yu led the race with a strong start on the butterfly leg but was overtaken by American Regan Smith on the backstroke. Yu regained the lead during the breaststroke and held off McIntosh in the final meters. This marked McIntosh’s third individual medal at the event, having clinched gold in the 400m medley and silver in the 200m freestyle, in addition to helping Canada secure bronze in the women’s 4x100m freestyle relay.
Reflecting on her performance, McIntosh expressed satisfaction with her swim but acknowledged that the overall meet did not meet her expectations. The 19-year-old, who holds the world record in the event, noted the need for self-reflection and improvement moving forward.
In a separate event, fellow Canadian Alexanne Lepage emerged victorious in the women’s 200m breaststroke final, outperforming reigning champion Kate Douglass of the United States. Lepage led the race from start to finish, setting a personal best time of 2:21.73. Douglass finished second in 2:22.57, while South Africa’s Kaylene Corbett claimed the third spot in 2:22.97.
With a total of 13 medals (three gold, four silver, six bronze), Canada achieved its most successful performance at the Pan Pacific Championships since 1997. The United States topped the overall medal count with 50 medals, followed by Australia with 35 and Canada in third place.
Additionally, Taylor Ruck set a new Canadian record in the women’s 50m freestyle, finishing fourth with a time of 24.23. Meanwhile, Lani Pallister of Australia caused an upset by defeating Katie Ledecky in the 800m freestyle, marking Ledecky’s first international loss in the event.
In another thrilling race, Sam Short of Australia won the men’s 1,500m freestyle, while Jamie Jack claimed victory in the men’s 50m freestyle. Canadian swimmers also showcased their talent across various events, with notable performances from Yuri Kisil, Ruslan Gaziev, and other team members.
The Pan Pacific Swimming Championships witnessed remarkable achievements and competitive races, showcasing the talent and dedication of athletes from around the world.
