Canadian superstar swimmer Summer McIntosh said she’s ‘feeling great’ after a mysterious sickness kept her out of all three stops of the World Aquatics World Cup this month, in an interview with the CBC.
McIntosh, 19, told CBC that she woke up with a severe headache two days before the start of the World Cup, among a “slew of other symptoms.”
She was in and out of the ER, and testing ruled out mono, the flu, and COVID. Eventually doctors conducted a spinal tap to test for viral meningitis, which was also ruled out, but the lumbar puncture put her on bed rest for a week and delayed her return to the water.
“It just kind of delayed me getting back into the water because I was feeling fine, for the most part, but then that just kind of reinstated not feeling the best, with those complications,” she said.
“I’ve definitely had some time away from the pool but I’m just so happy to be back in the water now and slowly getting back into things.”
McIntosh expressed disappointment at not racing in the World Cup, especially in front of a home crowd in Toronto, and lauded the efforts of her countrymate Josh Liendo – he broke the World Record in the 100 short course meters fly.
The teen, who previously spent time training with the Etobicoke Swim Club near Toronto, the Sarasota Sharks in Florida, and a French club team, has now settled in Austin in the pro group at the University of Texas.
“It’s just the most unreal experience coming here. I couldn’t believe it, and I think every practice is almost kind of like a pinch-me moment, and it’s something I hope I never kind of get used to or never take for granted because it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” McIntosh told the CBC.
“All props to Bob, of course. Bob influences every single person on that team to want to get better every single day and everyone pushes each other as much as possible in the water, in the weight room and all things like that. I think we all just share the love for the sport and I think that all keeps us motivated.”
Her next planned major meet is the U.S. Open, which is hosted in early December in Austin.
McIntosh, who is with little argument one of the two best swimmers in the world right now, won four Olympic medals individually in 2024 at the Paris Games: golds in the 200 IM, 400 IM, and 200 fly, and silver in the 400 free. She also has 12 World Championships gold medals among 21 total. Her 6 current World Records (400 free long course, 200 IM long course, 400 IM long course, 400 free short course, 200 fly short course, 400 IM short course) are all in individual events, which is more individual World Records than anyone else in the world.
McIntosh last participated int he World Cup Series in 2022, the last time it was in North America.
Canadian here… Summer’s mystery illness was called “blue jays world series run”. She’s a diehard jays fan!
Well what a surprise that a severe headache might eventually develop after Summer’s training with neurotransmitters on in the water, and on bicycles for prolonged periods in a 106-degree Farenheit heat chamber under the direction of Fred Vergnoux. That’s insane. See attached article.
https://as.com/masdeporte/polideportivo/del-neurofeedback-a-la-camara-de-calor-asi-logra-mcintosh-ser-la-mejor-del-mundo-n/
I suspect her illness was all figured out, or she wouldn’t be back in the water now–she wants sympathy (indeed the headache and other symptoms probably cost her $200,000 in lost prize money from World Cups, another reason to have a headache), but that doesn’t mean she is going to go public to the CBC with the actual diagnosis.
And I wouldn’t expect the CBC to actually ask what her diagnosis was. I’m sure they agreed to not report it. There’s a reason Summer only gives interviews to one news outlet…because they only write what she wants them to write. And there’s the response to all the “swimmers should make more money” crowd. There is no sport on earth that pays as well while tirelessly protecting its athletes from scrutiny as swimming. Maybe no profession, period. I got more criticism while working at Target.
I’m agreeing with you but want to point out that Tennis pros make as much as other top tier athletes but are very protected.
Tennis pros at least have required pre and post match interviews though…
Required by whom? The tennis player’s association? Genuine question. Certainly swimmer’s don’t have one, but maybe they should?
Hmmm, I’m not sure if the host organization, the tournament, or the global governing body requires it, but it is required and they’re fined if they skip them without reason.
Very true, although I’ve witnessed countless times where a player for whatever reason will excuse themselves from post match interviews with the media.
Don’t get me started on how the injuries are reported in the National Hockey League. An injury to a player is either described as a Lower body injury or upper body injury with no specifics given unless the injury entails surgery or weeks or months of recovery.
But I do agree that the sport of swimming has to be far more transparent with a perfect example of what went down with the US team during the recent World Championships in Singapore.
On a brighter note it was great to see so many brilliant performances… Read more »
You have to watch swimming podcast to learn about things like “the 7 A.M. alarm clock”: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/swM9gY7Foec
Isn’t it somewhat questionable for Vergnoux as coach of a then-18yo Canadian like McIntosh–training in a foreign country–to put her in a 106-degree chamber to train on a bicycle alongside a professional cyclist? No eyebrows raised on this? And then she gets sick later in the year upon returning to North America? I think certain non-Enhanced Games swim coaches are raising the stakes to maniacal levels in pursuit of performance in order to make a name for themselves, and some of the swimmers are going along like sheep.
Summer has been interviewed poolside by NBC many times post race. Given the haters on this blog, I don’t blame her for sticking with CBC for the bigger interviews.
I must be missing something very basic here. (And my Spanish isn’t so good.) When did she last work with Fred?
(I agree that it’s strange that we learn all the things that this illness was not, but…?? There’s …um…an elephant in the room.)
It is not that strange. Lots of symptoms end up with no clear diagnosis.
Exactly. Often you’ll see diagnosis written as “Abd pain NOS” or “headache NOS” (not otherwise specified).
She has interviews with CBC all the time, especially with Devin Heroux, so nothing unusual about that. There’s no evidence at all that she wants or needs the sympathy. She appears to be simply updating CBC on her absence. I’m sure CBC was planning on hyping the Toronto event if Summer was participating, so it likely made a damper on some of their promotional plans.
I’m not understanding what you’re trying to get at or why your tone is what it is.
Summer hasn’t trained with Fred V since July. Is she the only elite swimmer who has trained with neurotransmitters?
Looking for sympathy?? I’m not getting that vibe from her at all. She has a huge following in Canada, of course there was going to be a followup interview. I’m just glad she is okay.
Thrre are all sorts of weird viruses that can cause odd symptoms. I don’t blame Summer for not going public with whatever diagnosis: it’s called medical privacy.
Yes to everything stated here.
Spinal taps usually only take 24-48 hours max to recover from. It’s not common at all to require a week of bed rest after one unless you’re rushing the recovery and giving yourself headaches from being up and about right after the procedure.
If she developed a small leak afterward she may have been put on bedrest
Unless you need a “blood patch” after an LP to re establish proper CSF levels caused by the LP which can take days to recover from.
Braden I agree that McIntosh is clearly one of the 2 best swimmers right now, but who are you talking about as the other one?
Are you talking about Marchand? Or another girl?
Which female swimmer is within coulee of McIntosh. She owns 3 LC world records & very close to another 2 WRs, some of the greatest WRs in history. With a 6th event, she is 5th best ever.
There’s this swimmer named Katie Ledecky
Also someone named McKeown, Douglass, O’Callaghan, Walsh
Not anywhere near Summer’s level & my fav swimmer is MOC.
MOC, KD, and Walsh are nowhere near Summer and Ledecky sorry
Not arguing that they are on McIntosh’s level, but Ledecky isn’t a clear #2.
Kaylee is challenging Ledecky for #2. KD has a huge, massive upside in breaststroke (already Olympic champion), but also freestyle.
At present Walsh is a great Short course swimmer & great at 100 fly in LC.
Katie, maybe once was not currently, she is WR holder in 2 events, & the other 2 events that Ledecky is very good at 2 other events but she is going nowhere those WRs now.
She just broke her world record at age 28 and beat McIntosh so I think it’s fair to still put her up as in that league.
Ledecky is the GOAT, no doubt, a WR at age 28 years old is amazing.
But we are taking now.
Ledecky has broken 1 WR in the past 2 years & come close to another
McIntosh has broken 3 WRs in the past 2 years & very close to 2 more.
Yes Ledecky beat McIntosh in McIntosh’s 5th event.
But McIntosh beat Ledecky in Ledecky’s 3rd event.
KL is the undisputed GOAT, but the qualifier of ‘right now’ would give GW, KM and KD a valid claim for being the other of the 2. Especially in light of their recent record breaking runs.
KL is the undisputed GOAT no doubt. No one is near Summer Mcintosh at present.
KD is great but to be at SM level, she has to break 100/200 breast LC & 100 Free & win 4 golds at next Olympics.
Kaylee is limited to 2 backstroke, while Walsh is a long way back, her WR in 100 fly is amazing, but she has yet to do anything in other events yet.
Summer is by far the most versatile, and her races aren’t lightweight ones either.
Summer is best all around female swimmer ever. Not even close.
100% agree.
It’s definitely Marchand
I think he is talking about Marchand.
As far as the illness, maybe just a nasty virus of some sort. There’s all sorts of weird viruses out there now (seems like moreso since covid). If it was anybody but a world class athlete, the doctor would probably have said just go home and go to bed for a few days
I agree with you!
No. Sudden severe “thunderclap?” headache like that with other symptoms will almost always require blood work, CT head, LP, IV fluids and meds, even MRI or xrays. My guess, world class athletes have an exceptionally high tolerance for pain and so really have to be taken seriously.
I think she said she was in and out of the ED a few times, so that might have been what happened.
Slightly off topic, but does anybody know for sure how many swimmers are in the pro group at Texas? In her recent interview with Katie Hoff, Summer said she was surprised how big the team was (though she might have been including the college team in that comment). I know the usual suspects that are named, Leon, Shaine, Regan, Hubi, Carson, Simone, and I heard recently that Lindsay Looney is there, but who else? And how many in total in the pro group? Thanks very much
I think pro gorup is Casas, Foster, Hobson, Guiliano, Marchand, Regan, Looney, Simone, and I guess Jack Kelly. Not sure what happened ot Hugo Gonzalez, but he was for a bit at least. don’t know if he’s still there
thanks!
Anna Elendt also said it because of a German magazine.
Yeah I was just thinking of Bob’s pros
You have to be pretty ill to get a lumbar puncture.
Not necessarily. As one poster above you noted, possibly it was an over-reaction because of her being an elite athlete. Regardless, glad she’s better!
It would not have been an over-reaction
Swimming fastitis