Summer McIntosh, the current world record holder in the women’s 400-meter freestyle event, fell short of qualifying for the A final at the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships in Irvine, California. Despite being in a promising position to secure a second-place finish behind Australia’s Lani Pallister during the morning heat, McIntosh was narrowly out-touched at the wall, ultimately claiming third place and ninth overall with a time of 4 minutes 8.56 seconds, which was 14 seconds slower than her record-breaking performance. China’s 15-year-old swimmer, Fan Yaqi, clinched the eighth and final spot for the 10:07 p.m. ET final with a time of 4:08.36.
The 19-year-old Canadian sensation hailing from Toronto acknowledged her error in judgment during the morning heats, expressing her accountability on Instagram. McIntosh, along with teammate Ella Cosgrove, who finished 13th overall, will compete in the B final at 10:01 p.m. The live streaming of the event can be accessed on CBCSports.ca and CBC Gem.
In a previous accomplishment last June, McIntosh set a new record of 3:54.18 at the Canadian swimming trials in Victoria, surpassing the previous mark set by retired Australian swimmer Ariarne Titmus in 2023. The highly anticipated A final at the William Woollett Jr. Aquatics Center featured a showdown between American record holder Katie Ledecky, Lani Pallister, and McIntosh. Ledecky topped the qualifying round with a time of 4:03.48, while Pallister secured the fourth spot with a time of 4:05.22.
McIntosh’s debut at the Pan Pacs saw her claiming silver in the women’s 200-meter freestyle event on Wednesday, finishing just behind Pallister. She continued her success by setting a new championship record in the 400-meter individual medley and winning bronze in the women’s 200-meter freestyle relay alongside her teammates. Up next, McIntosh is set to compete in the 200 IM on Saturday.
The Canadian swimmer’s journey at the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships has been a mix of achievements and challenges, showcasing her resilience and determination in the highly competitive swimming arena.