Summer McIntosh, who holds the world record for the women’s 400-meter freestyle, did not qualify for the A final at the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships in Irvine, California. Despite being in a position to secure a second-place finish behind Australia’s Lani Pallister in the morning heat, McIntosh was narrowly edged out and placed third, ranking ninth overall with a time of 4 minutes 8.56 seconds, which was 14 seconds slower than her record time. China’s 15-year-old Fan Yaqi claimed the eighth and final spot for the 10:07 p.m. ET final with a time of 4:08.36.
The Canadian swimming sensation, a 19-year-old from Toronto, expressed her disappointment and took responsibility for misjudging the morning heats in an Instagram post. McIntosh and her teammate Ella Cosgrove, who finished 13th overall, will both compete in the B final at 10:01 p.m. The event can be live-streamed on CBCSports.ca and CBC Gem.
Last June, McIntosh set a new record of 3:54.18 at the Canadian swimming trials in Victoria, surpassing the previous record set by the now-retired Ariarne Titmus of Australia in 2023. The highly anticipated A final at the William Woollett Jr. Aquatics Center was expected to feature a showdown between American record-holder Katie Ledecky, Pallister, and McIntosh, with Ledecky leading the qualifiers in 4:03.48 and Pallister placing fourth with 4:05.22.
After winning silver in the women’s 200 free on her Pan Pacs debut, McIntosh continued her impressive performance by setting a championship record in the 400 individual medley and securing bronze in the women’s 200 free relay. She is set to compete in the 200 IM on Saturday, aiming for another strong showing at the championships.