After securing three individual swimming gold medals at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris and four at the previous year’s world championships in Singapore, Summer McIntosh is aiming for an even greater achievement at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
The talented Canadian swimmer is aspiring to claim five solo gold medals, a feat only achieved by the legendary Michael Phelps during his iconic eight-gold-medal performance at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
During a recent flight to southern California, McIntosh was struck with excitement as she flew over SoFi Stadium, which will be transformed into the largest swimming venue in Olympic history for the 2028 Games, accommodating approximately 38,000 spectators.
Expressing her enthusiasm, the 19-year-old Toronto native shared her anticipation for the upcoming Pan Pacific championships in Irvine, California, as part of her journey towards Olympic glory in Los Angeles.
The Pan Pacific championships, held every four years, serve as a significant event featuring swimming powerhouses like Australia and the United States, along with other strong contenders such as Japan, Brazil, South Africa, China, and Canada. The competition, which commenced with open-water events along the Pacific coast in Long Beach, will see McIntosh leading a team of 42 Canadian athletes in various events over four days in Irvine.
Among the notable Canadian swimmers joining McIntosh at the Pan Pacs are Taylor Ruck, Sophie Angus, Oliver Dawson, and Lorne Wingginton, who have showcased their prowess in recent competitions. McIntosh, under the guidance of renowned coach Bob Bowman, is set to compete in four events, including the 200m freestyle, 400m individual medley, 400m freestyle, and 200m individual medley.
While McIntosh opted to skip the 800m freestyle and the 200m butterfly at the Pan Pacs, she remains a formidable force in her selected events, holding world records and reigning champion titles. Noteworthy rivalries at the championships include McIntosh facing off against American star Katie Ledecky in the 400m freestyle, among other international stars vying for victory across various disciplines.
Viewers can catch all the action live on the CBC Gem streaming app and CBC Sports website, with morning heats starting at 1 p.m. ET and finals at 10 p.m. ET daily.