Summer McIntosh, the swimming sensation who has been making waves in the sport, has her sights set on the upcoming Canadian Trials and Pan Pacs. With her recent wins at the Ft Lauderdale Open, including a thrilling race against American rival Katie Ledecky, McIntosh is undoubtedly one of the most dominant talents in the world of swimming today. However, her focus is not solely on these upcoming meets, but also on her training regimen, which she describes as a "long summer."
McIntosh's recent performance at the Ft Lauderdale Open has been a mixed bag. While she won the 400 free race against Ledecky, her time of 3:58.91 was not where she wanted it to be. She also won the 200 free race, touching in 1:54.36, more than two seconds faster than the rest of the field. However, she seemed unsatisfied with her performance, stating that she was hoping to be around 1:53.8, a time she achieved at Westmont.
Her coach, Bob Bowman, had a different perspective on her performance, seeming rather excited about the time and the race. He is focusing on her turns and is confident that she will improve in the upcoming training months. McIntosh's 200 free race at Westmont still ranks her as the second-fastest performer in the world this season, only behind Australian Mollie O'Callaghan.
McIntosh's excitement for the Canadian Trials is palpable. She has historically dominated this meet and has set all-time world records there. She is particularly excited about the 400 free, 200 IM, and 400 IM events, where she holds current world records. However, she is also aware of the challenges ahead, as she has never swum in the pool before, and is coming off a period of intense training at the OTC.
In my opinion, McIntosh's focus on the Canadian Trials and Pan Pacs is a smart move. She has the talent and the experience to dominate these meets, and her recent performances have shown that she is in top form. However, her dissatisfaction with her recent times also highlights the importance of setting realistic goals and staying motivated during the training process. It will be interesting to see how she navigates the challenges ahead and whether she can maintain her dominant form in the upcoming meets.
