An unknown health issue has led Canadian swimming sensation Summer McIntosh to pull out of all three World Aquatics Swimming World Cup events, including the final competition in Toronto. The 19-year-old was absent from the first event in Indianapolis and has indicated to CBC Sports that she will not be participating in the upcoming Oct. 17-19 meet in Westmont, Ill., close to Chicago, as well as the final event at Toronto’s Pan Am Sports Centre on Oct. 23-25.
Through a representative, McIntosh expressed her disappointment at not being able to compete in front of her hometown supporters. She cited her inability to train due to the illness and emphasized her focus on rest and recuperation to get back into the pool.
This was supposed to mark McIntosh’s debut in international competition under the tutelage of coach Bob Bowman, renowned for guiding American Michael Phelps to 23 Olympic gold medals. McIntosh relocated to Austin, Texas at the end of August to train with Bowman.
The World Cup tour, spanning three stops and featuring elite swimmers who are Olympic and world champions, boasts a prize purse of $1.2 million, with $10,000 earmarked for potential world record-breaking performances.
Among the Canadian swimmers enlisted for at least one stop of the tour are Josh Liendo, Kylie Masse, Mary-Sophie Harvey, and Ilya Kharun. Kharun secured consecutive gold medals at the tour’s outset, triumphing in the 200m butterfly on Saturday and concluding with a victory in the 50m butterfly on Sunday.
Notable international swimmers in attendance included Leon Marchand, Noe Ponti, Mollie O’Callaghan, Regan Smith, Thomas Ceccon, and Kaylee McKeown.