Canadian swimmer Summer McIntosh narrowly missed out on the gold medal by 0.02 seconds in the women’s 200-meter individual medley at the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships. The Toronto native, who is the reigning Olympic and world champion, settled for silver behind China’s Yu Yiting, who set a championship record with a time of 2:07.45. American Alex Walsh claimed the bronze in 2:07.66.
Yu Yiting started strong, setting a rapid pace in the butterfly leg, but American Regan Smith briefly took the lead in the backstroke. However, Yu regained the lead in the breaststroke and managed to hold off McIntosh in the final meters.
This silver medal was McIntosh’s third individual medal at the championships, having previously won gold in the 400m medley and silver in the 200m freestyle. She also contributed to Canada’s bronze in the women’s 4x100m freestyle relay.
Reflecting on her performance, McIntosh expressed that while it was one of her better swims, the overall meet did not go as she had hoped. The 19-year-old, who holds the world record in the event, looks forward to further improvement in the upcoming season.
In another event, Canadian Alexanne Lepage clinched the gold in the women’s 200m breaststroke, outpacing reigning champion Kate Douglass of the United States. Lepage registered a lifetime-best time of 2:21.73, while Douglass finished second in 2:22.57. South Africa’s Kaylene Corbett secured the bronze in 2:22.97.
Canada concluded the championships with a total of 13 medals (three gold, four silver, six bronze), marking their most successful performance since the 1997 edition. The United States topped the medal standings 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 in a highly competitive field where Douglass broke the world record with a time of 23.19.
The event also saw Australia’s Lani Pallister defeating Katie Ledecky in the women’s 800m freestyle, marking Ledecky’s first international loss in the event. Pallister set a time of 8:06.10, erasing Ledecky’s championship record from 2018.
Sam Short of Australia claimed victory in the men’s 1,500m freestyle, clocking the sixth-fastest time in history. Meanwhile, Jamie Jack of Australia set a championship record in the men’s 50m freestyle, with Canadian swimmers securing notable finishes in various events.
The championships showcased exceptional performances and thrilling competitions, with several swimmers achieving personal bests and setting new records on the international stage.