Canadian swimmer Summer McIntosh has successfully recovered from an illness that kept her out of the water, expressing that she is now feeling excellent following a challenging two weeks. McIntosh had to pull out of all three legs of the World Cup tour due to falling ill before the first event in Carmel, Ind.
In an interview with CBC Sports, McIntosh revealed that just before the start of the World Cup, she woke up in the middle of the night with a severe headache that led to a two-week search for answers regarding her condition. Despite undergoing multiple tests, including ruling out mono, flu, and COVID, doctors suspected viral meningitis, which required a lumbar puncture.
Unfortunately, the lumbar puncture led to complications for McIntosh, putting her on bed rest for over a week and delaying her return to the pool. She is now gradually regaining her strength and is delighted to be back in the water. McIntosh, who relocated to Austin, Texas, to train under coach Bob Bowman, emphasized the importance of taking her time to recover fully.
Expressing disappointment at missing the World Cup, especially the final stop in Toronto, McIntosh praised her fellow Canadian swimmers and expressed her admiration for their achievements. She particularly highlighted Josh Liendo’s record-breaking performances and Ilya Kharun’s success at the event. Canada has secured ten medals in the competition so far, with one more session to go.
Despite missing the World Cup, McIntosh has been closely following the event and supporting the Toronto Blue Jays in the World Series. She feels grateful for the support in her new training environment at the University of Texas with Bowman’s team, which includes talented swimmers like Leon Marchand and Regan Smith. McIntosh plans to participate in the upcoming U.S. Open in December.
The young swimmer expressed her excitement and gratitude for the opportunity to train with such a talented group under Bowman’s guidance, emphasizing the positive and motivating atmosphere within the team. McIntosh’s determination and commitment to her sport shine through as she looks forward to future competitions.
