Canadian swimmer Summer McIntosh has successfully recovered from an illness that kept her away from the pool. The 19-year-old described the past two weeks as challenging but mentioned she is now feeling “great.” McIntosh had to withdraw from all three World Cup tour stops due to an illness that struck before the first event in Carmel, Indiana.
In an interview with CBC Sports, McIntosh revealed that she woke up two days before the World Cup with a severe headache, leading to a series of medical investigations to determine the cause of her symptoms. Despite multiple tests, including ruling out mono, flu, and COVID, doctors suspected viral meningitis, which prompted a lumbar puncture procedure. However, McIntosh faced complications post-procedure, requiring her to be on bed rest for over a week.
Although the setbacks delayed her return to training after relocating to Austin, Texas, to train with renowned coach Bob Bowman, McIntosh remains optimistic about her recovery. She expressed disappointment at missing the World Cup, especially the final stop in Toronto, where she hoped to compete in front of a home crowd.
Noteworthy performances at the World Cup included Josh Liendo breaking records and winning gold medals in the 100m butterfly and 100m freestyle, while Ilya Kharun secured multiple gold medals in the 200m butterfly. Canada has amassed ten medals so far at the Pan Am Sports Centre, with one more session remaining.
Despite missing the competition, McIntosh closely followed the World Cup and cheered for the Toronto Blue Jays in the World Series. She emphasized the support and elite training environment at the University of Texas under Bowman’s guidance, training alongside exceptional talents like Leon Marchand and Regan Smith.
Looking ahead, McIntosh aims to participate in the U.S. Open in December. She highlighted the incredible training experience with Bowman, praising his influence on the team’s dedication to improvement. McIntosh’s positive outlook and determination reflect her commitment to returning stronger after her recent health challenges.
