Canadian swimmer Summer McIntosh has fully recovered from an illness that kept her away from the pool, feeling strong after a challenging two-week period. McIntosh had to pull out of the World Cup tour 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 tests to diagnose the issue. Despite multiple ER visits and various tests ruling out common illnesses like mono, flu, and COVID, doctors suspected viral meningitis, prompting a lumbar puncture. However, complications arose from the procedure, forcing McIntosh into more than a week of bed rest.
Although the setback delayed her return to the pool, McIntosh expressed gratitude for being back in the water, gradually regaining strength post-illness and lumbar puncture complications. Disappointed to miss the World Cup, especially the final event in Toronto, McIntosh praised Canadian swimmers’ performance, including Josh Liendo’s record-breaking wins and Ilya Kharun’s gold medals.
McIntosh, now training in Texas under renowned coach Bob Bowman, emphasized the importance of a gradual recovery process. She plans to participate in the upcoming U.S. Open in December and expressed appreciation for the supportive training environment in Texas. McIntosh highlighted the motivation and camaraderie among her training group, aiming to continue improving in the sport.
Despite missing the World Cup, McIntosh stays engaged with the sport, closely following the Blue Jays in the World Series alongside her father. With a stellar training group and under Bowman’s mentorship, McIntosh remains focused on her swimming goals, eager to continue her journey in competitive swimming.
As McIntosh looks ahead to upcoming competitions, she reflects on the unique opportunity to train with top athletes and a world-class coach, cherishing every moment and aiming for continuous growth in her swimming career.