Summer McIntosh secured her first gold medal on Thursday night at the Pan Pacific swimming championships, triumphing over Jenna Forrester from Australia with a championship record time in the women’s 400-metre individual medley in Irvine, California.
The swimmer from Toronto, who originally aimed to break her world record set last year, completed the butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke, and freestyle in a total time of four minutes and 28.01 seconds. Forrester finished nearly three seconds later, taking silver with a time of 4:31.50, while Agostina Hein from Argentina claimed bronze with a time of 4:32.54.
Previously, the Pan Pacs record was held by American Elizabeth Beisel, who had set it at 4:31.99 in 2014.
“My butterfly felt really smooth and controlled this morning [in the heats], so I wanted to do the same tonight,” McIntosh remarked to CBC’s Devin Heroux after the event. “I think that might have led to some discomfort towards the end, but it was definitely a valuable learning experience. I’ll review my splits [times] to identify where I could improve in that race.”
“I genuinely believed I could achieve more tonight, but I’m still pleased to have touched the wall first for Canada.”
Summer McIntosh spoke with CBC Sports’ Devin Heroux after winning gold in the women’s 400m individual medley at the 2026 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships.
After the race concluded, the Canadian anthem evoked enthusiastic cheers from a crowd filled with young fans.
“It’s heartwarming to see that group of kids up there [in the stands],” McIntosh expressed. “Just giving them a little wave made them go wild. It’s a privilege to provide entertainment each time I compete and to be part of this. I know all the athletes here aspire to do the same.”
Canada’s relay team of Mary-Sophie Harvey, Summer McIntosh, Emma O’Croinin and Brooklyn Douthwright spoke with CBC Sports’ Devin Heroux after winning bronze in the women’s 4×200-metre freestyle relay at the 2026 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships.
Later that evening, McIntosh helped Canada secure third place in the women’s 4×200 freestyle relay after two legs, with Emma O’Croinin and anchor swimmer Brooklyn Douthwright ensuring the team maintained the position for a bronze medal.
The Canadian squad, featuring Mary-Sophie Harvey in the first leg, clocked a time of 7:52.74, trailing behind Australia, who set a championship record at 7:42.40, and the United States at 7:43.10.
Harvey acknowledged her nerves and admitted not being at her best during the post-race interview with Heroux.
Two medals on Day 2 for Canada at the 2026 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships and Summer McIntosh had a hand in both. Her first individual gold in the 400m medley and then a bronze alongside teammates Mary-Sophie Harvey, Emma O’Croinin & Brooklyn Douthwright in the 4x200m freestyle.
“I felt it was crucial to deliver for the girls, and I’m thrilled we managed to secure the bronze,” she stated. “Our goal is to remain on that [medal] podium leading up to L.A. [and the 2028 Olympics].”
Australia led for nearly the entire race, with Inez Miller, Lani Pallister, Hannah Casey, and Milla Jansen breaking the previous championship record of 7:44.12 set at the 2018 Pan Pacs.
In the men’s 400 IM, Tristan Jankovics from Puslinch, Ontario, and Calgary’s Lorne Wigginton finished in seventh and eighth places, respectively, in a field of eight. Jankovics clocked in at 4:14.14, finishing just 0.8 seconds ahead of Wigginton. Japan’s Tomoyuki Matsushita took gold with a championship record time of 4:06.75.
This new time shattered the previous championship record of 4:07.59 set by American Ryan Lochte at the 2010 Pan Pacs, also held in Irvine.
“Next time I return to the U.S., I plan to win gold again,” Matsushita said with a smile through a translator.
In the women’s 100 free, Taylor Ruck from Kelowna, B.C., finished in fifth place.
The 26-year-old swimmer recorded a time of 53.16 seconds after qualifying for the final with a time of 53.69 at the William Woollett Jr. Aquatics Center.
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McIntosh takes silver in women’s 200m freestyle; Tierney wins 100m backstroke gold at Pan Pacs
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More swimming coverage
A late surge by Meg Harris from Australia helped her win the event, finishing just ahead of Gretchen Walsh in the final 25 metres with a time of 52.60 seconds, 0.18 seconds ahead of the American star. Harris’s teammate, Olivia Wunsch, secured bronze with a time of 52.98 seconds.
On the opening day of the competition, Ruck earned three bronze medals in the women’s 50 butterfly, 100 backstroke, and as a member of the 100 medley relay team alongside Ingrid Wilm, Oliver Dawson, and Finlay Knox.
Watch the second day of competition at the 2026 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships in Irvine, Calif.
University of Calgary swimmer Alexanne Lepage posted a personal best of 1:05.94 in the women’s 100 breaststroke, just 0.2 seconds shy of the Canadian record of 1:05.74 held by Annamay Pierse since July 9, 2009.
Her teammate Sophie Angus also competed in the event, finishing in seventh place with a time of 1:06.70 after a personal best of 1:06.38 in the qualifiers.
Recently, the 27-year-old earned her first individual medal at the Commonwealth Games, tying for third in the women’s 50 breaststroke. Although Angus was born in Connecticut, her parents are Canadian.
McKenzie Siroky of the U.S. dominated the race, finishing in 1:05.32, followed by China’s Tang Qianting (1:05.46) and Japan’s Satomi Suzuki (1:05.65).
Other Canadian results:
- Ingrid Wilm, Calgary (women’s 50m backstroke) — 5th, 27.93 seconds
- Oliver Dawson, Grande Prairie, Alta. (men’s 100 breaststroke) — 6th, 59.85
- Javier Acevedo, Toronto (men’s 50 backstroke) — 8th, 25.45
- Canada (men’s 200m freestyle relay) Ethan Ekk, Finlay Knox, Francis Brennan, Lorne Wigginton — 4th, 7:09.91
- Canada 2 (men’s 200 free relay) Laon Kim, Tristan Jankovics, Jordi Vilchez, Antoine Sauve — 6th, 7:17.75