Canadian swimming star, Summer McIntosh, has successfully recovered from an illness that forced her out of the pool, expressing her relief and gratitude after a challenging two-week ordeal. McIntosh had to withdraw from all three legs of the World Cup tour due to falling ill just before the opening event in Carmel, Indiana.
In an exclusive conversation with CBC Sports, McIntosh disclosed that she woke up two days before the World Cup commencement with a severe headache, triggering a prolonged period of medical investigation to determine the root cause of her ailment. Despite multiple visits to the emergency room and undergoing various tests, including ruling out possibilities like mono, flu, and COVID, McIntosh had to undergo a lumbar puncture to test for viral meningitis, which fortunately turned out negative.
Following the lumbar puncture, which encountered some complications, McIntosh had to observe over a week of bed rest before gradually resuming her training routine. Relocating to Austin, Texas, to train under esteemed coach Bob Bowman, McIntosh emphasized the importance of a cautious approach to rebuilding her strength post-illness and lumbar puncture challenges.
Expressing disappointment over missing the World Cup competition, particularly the final stop at the Pan Am Sports Centre near Toronto, McIntosh praised the outstanding performances of her Canadian counterparts, such as Josh Liendo and Ilya Kharun, who clinched multiple gold medals at the event.
Despite the setback, McIntosh remains optimistic and determined to make a strong comeback, with plans to participate in the upcoming U.S. Open in December. She emphasized the invaluable support and competitive environment provided by Bowman’s training group, which includes elite swimmers like Leon Marchand and Regan Smith, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and mutual motivation among the athletes.
McIntosh, an avid spectator of the ongoing World Series games featuring the Toronto Blue Jays, expressed her enthusiasm and support for the team, highlighting her close bond with her father in cheering for their favorite baseball team. She looks forward to resuming her competitive journey with renewed vigor and dedication, fueled by the inspiring camaraderie and relentless pursuit of excellence within her training cohort.