Canadian swimming star Summer McIntosh has successfully recovered from an illness that forced her out of competition, expressing relief and gratitude after a challenging two-week ordeal. McIntosh had to withdraw from all World Cup tour events due to an illness that struck just before the opening in Carmel, Ind.
In an interview with CBC Sports, McIntosh revealed that she woke up two days prior to the World Cup with a severe headache, leading to a series of medical investigations to pinpoint the cause of her condition. Despite multiple visits to the emergency room and various tests, doctors initially suspected mono, the flu, or COVID, only to rule out those possibilities. A lumbar puncture was eventually conducted to test for viral meningitis, fortunately yielding negative results.
Following the lumbar puncture, McIntosh encountered complications that prolonged her recovery period and confined her to bed rest for over a week. Despite feeling mostly well, she faced setbacks from these complications that delayed her return to the pool.
Having relocated to Austin, Texas to train under renowned coach Bob Bowman, McIntosh emphasized the importance of gradually rebuilding her strength post-illness and complications. Expressing disappointment at missing the World Cup, particularly the final stop in Toronto, McIntosh lauded the performances of fellow Canadian swimmers and expressed optimism for the future of Canadian sports.
Meanwhile, McIntosh avidly followed the World Cup events and cheered for the Blue Jays as the World Series began in Toronto. She highlighted the supportive training environment at the University of Texas, where she trains alongside a talented group of swimmers, including Leon Marchand and Regan Smith.
Looking ahead, McIntosh intends to compete in the upcoming U.S. Open in December in Austin, aiming to continue her journey to peak performance.