Canadian swimming sensation Summer McIntosh, just 19 years old, has been forced to withdraw from the entire slate of World Aquatics Swimming World Cup events this October due to an undisclosed illness, leaving fans and the swimming community both surprised and disappointed. The news, confirmed by both CBC Sports and other major outlets, means McIntosh will miss three major stops on the prestigious World Cup tour, including the highly anticipated finale in her hometown of Toronto.
McIntosh’s absence is notable not just for her status as one of Canada’s brightest swimming stars, but also because this series was set to mark her debut on the international stage under the guidance of renowned coach Bob Bowman. Bowman, famous for coaching American legend Michael Phelps to an Olympic-record 23 gold medals, began working with McIntosh after she moved to Austin, Texas at the end of August 2025. The partnership had sparked excitement across the swimming world, with many eager to see how McIntosh would fare under Bowman’s legendary tutelage.
The World Aquatics Swimming World Cup, a three-stop tour featuring Olympic and world champion swimmers, kicked off in Indianapolis on October 11-12, 2025. McIntosh was notably absent from the pool in Carmel, Indiana, as illness kept her from competing in the opening event. According to a spokesperson, McIntosh has been unable to train and is now focusing on rest and recovery. "She's especially disappointed" to miss the opportunity to race in front of hometown fans in Toronto, the spokesperson told CBC Sports, underscoring just how much the final leg meant to her.
The disappointment is keenly felt, as the Toronto stop at the Pan Am Sports Centre, scheduled for October 23-25, 2025, was expected to be a highlight of the tour for Canadian swimming fans. McIntosh’s withdrawal from the Westmont, Illinois event (October 17-19) and the Toronto finale means she will not appear at any of the World Cup stops this year. For a swimmer who has become a symbol of Canadian promise in the pool, the timing couldn’t be more unfortunate.
Despite the setback, McIntosh’s team remains optimistic about her long-term prospects. Rest and recovery are the priority, and there’s a sense that, with proper care, she’ll be back making waves soon enough. The specifics of her illness remain undisclosed, but the decision to step away from competition reflects a mature approach to health and career longevity.
This year’s World Cup tour is no small affair. With a total prize purse of $1.2 million USD and a $10,000 bonus for any swimmer breaking a world record, the stakes are high. The tour has drawn top-tier talent from around the globe, including international standouts like Leon Marchand, Noe Ponti, Mollie O’Callaghan, Regan Smith, Thomas Ceccon, and Kaylee McKeown. The absence of McIntosh, who many considered a strong contender for medals and perhaps even a world record, shifts the competitive landscape considerably.
Canadian fans still have plenty to cheer for, however. Several other elite swimmers from the country are in action throughout the tour. Josh Liendo, Kylie Masse, Mary-Sophie Harvey, and Ilya Kharun are all representing Canada on the world stage. Kharun, in particular, has wasted no time asserting himself as a force to be reckoned with. He captured back-to-back gold medals at the outset of the tour, winning the 200m butterfly on October 11 and following it up with a victory in the 50m fly on October 12. Kharun’s early success has energized the Canadian contingent and provided a silver lining amid the disappointment surrounding McIntosh’s withdrawal.
For those unfamiliar with the tour’s structure, the World Aquatics Swimming World Cup is a prestigious series that brings together Olympic and world champions, rising stars, and national heroes for a fast-paced, high-stakes competition across three major North American cities. The format not only offers significant financial incentives but also serves as a crucial test ahead of upcoming global championships and, for some, the next Olympic cycle. The tour’s reputation for producing memorable races and record-breaking performances has only grown in recent years, making every absence—especially one as significant as McIntosh’s—felt all the more deeply.
The anticipation for McIntosh’s first international outing under Bowman was particularly intense. Bowman’s track record speaks for itself, and many had speculated that his partnership with McIntosh could unlock new levels of performance for the Canadian star. McIntosh’s decision to relocate to Austin, Texas to train with Bowman at the end of August 2025 signaled her commitment to reaching the sport’s highest echelons. While fans will have to wait a little longer to see the results of this collaboration, the move itself remains a promising development for Canadian swimming.
Meanwhile, the competition moves forward. The Westmont, Illinois stop is set to kick off on October 17, and excitement is already building for the Toronto finale. With a roster packed with Olympic and world champions, there’s no shortage of storylines for fans to follow. The likes of Marchand, Ponti, O’Callaghan, Smith, Ceccon, and McKeown bring international flair and fierce competition, ensuring that the tour retains its high-profile status even in the absence of one of its brightest young stars.
The Canadian team’s resilience will be put to the test as they aim to build on Kharun’s gold-medal performances and keep the nation’s flag flying high. For McIntosh, the focus now turns to health and preparation for future challenges. Her absence is a reminder of the physical toll elite sport can take, but also of the importance of prioritizing well-being—something both her team and fans seem to support wholeheartedly.
As the swimming world rallies around Summer McIntosh, the World Cup tour continues to deliver drama, excitement, and world-class performances. Canadian fans may be missing their hometown hero this October, but the pool remains full of stories, surprises, and the promise of what’s to come when McIntosh is ready to dive back in.
