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 position to secure the second spot behind Australia’s Lani Pallister in the morning heat, McIntosh was narrowly out-touched, finishing third and ninth overall in a time of 4 minutes 8.56 seconds, which was 14 seconds slower than her record time. China’s Fan Yaqi, aged 15, clinched the eighth and final spot for the upcoming final at 10:07 p.m. ET, clocking in at 4:08.36.
The 19-year-old Canadian standout from Toronto expressed her determination to compete in the B final at 10:01 p.m., alongside teammate Ella Cosgrove, who placed 13th overall. The live stream for the event can be accessed on CBCSports.ca and CBC Gem. McIntosh took responsibility for her performance in the morning heats, acknowledging her misjudgment in a statement on Instagram and expressing gratitude for the support received.
In June, McIntosh set a new record of 3:54.18 at the Canadian swimming trials in Victoria, surpassing the previous mark set by the retired Ariarne Titmus of Australia in 2023. The much-anticipated A final on Friday at the William Woollett Jr. Aquatics Center was anticipated to feature a showdown between American record-holder Katie Ledecky, Pallister, and McIntosh. Ledecky secured the top qualifying spot with a time of 4:03.48, while Pallister finished fourth in 4:05.22.
McIntosh’s Pan Pacific debut on Wednesday saw her claim silver in the women’s 200 free event, finishing just behind Pallister with a time of 1:53.86. She continued her success by breaking the championship record in the 400 individual medley with a time of 4:28.01 the following day. Additionally, she contributed to a bronze medal win in the women’s 200 free relay alongside Mary-Sophie Harvey, Emma O’Croiniin, and Brooklyn Douthwright.
Looking ahead, McIntosh is scheduled to compete in the 200 IM on Saturday. The athlete’s achievements and setbacks at the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships have been closely followed by fans and spectators, showcasing her resilience and competitive spirit in the pool.