Summer McIntosh, a Canadian swimming sensation, is eyeing an ambitious goal for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles after her remarkable achievements at the 2024 Olympics in Paris and last year’s world championships in Singapore. With three individual swimming gold medals at the Olympics and four at the world championships, McIntosh aims to replicate Michael Phelps’ historic feat of winning five solo golds in a single Games.
During a recent flight to southern California, McIntosh was inspired when she spotted SoFi Stadium, the venue that will host the swimming events for the 2028 Olympics. The 19-year-old from Toronto expressed her excitement about competing there and visualizing her future success.
This week, McIntosh is participating in the Pan Pacific championships in Irvine, California, which is a significant event featuring top swimming nations like Australia, the United States, Japan, Brazil, South Africa, China, and Canada. The championships, held every four years, kicked off with open-water events in Long Beach and will continue in Irvine with McIntosh leading a team of 42 Canadian swimmers over four days.
Notable Canadian swimmers joining McIntosh at the Pan Pacs include Taylor Ruck, Sophie Angus, Oliver Dawson, Lorne Wingginton, Emma Finlin, Kylie Masse, and Josh Liendo. McIntosh is set to compete in four events, showcasing her talents and aiming for success in each discipline.
Although McIntosh decided not to swim in the 800m freestyle and the 200m butterfly at the Pan Pacs, she remains focused on excelling in the 200m freestyle, 400m individual medley, 400m freestyle, and 200m individual medley. Coached by Bob Bowman, a renowned trainer who worked with Michael Phelps, McIntosh is determined to continue her winning streak and set new records.
In the upcoming races, McIntosh will face tough competition from international stars like Katie Ledecky, Lanni Pallister, Zac Stubblety-Cook, Bobby Finke, Kate Douglass, and Gretchen Walsh. The Pan Pacs will feature exciting matchups and intense rivalries, making it a must-watch event for swimming enthusiasts.
To catch all the thrilling races live, viewers can tune in to 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. A detailed schedule with exact start times for the finals is available for fans to plan their viewing experience.