Canadian swimmer Summer McIntosh has fully recovered from an illness that forced her out of competition, marking a challenging period for the 19-year-old athlete. McIntosh had to withdraw from the World Cup tour due to an unexpected illness just 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 two-week ordeal of medical examinations to determine the cause. Despite multiple trips to the emergency room and various tests, the exact nature of the illness remained a mystery until doctors suspected viral meningitis, which was eventually ruled out after a lumbar puncture procedure.
Following the lumbar puncture, McIntosh faced complications that prolonged her recovery and confined her to bed rest for over a week. Although eager to return to the pool, she emphasized the importance of gradually rebuilding her strength after such a challenging period.
Disappointed to miss the World Cup events, particularly the final stop in Toronto where she could have competed in front of a home crowd, McIntosh expressed admiration for her fellow Canadian athletes’ achievements. She closely followed the outstanding performances of Josh Liendo and Ilya Kharun, who secured multiple gold medals at the competition.
Despite her setbacks, McIntosh remains positive and determined to resume training with coach Bob Bowman in Texas. She is grateful for the supportive training environment and the opportunity to learn and grow alongside world-class swimmers. Looking ahead, McIntosh aims to participate in the upcoming U.S. Open in December as she continues her journey back to full fitness.