Pan Pacific Championships Will Be Light on Reigning Gold Medalists
When the Pan Pacific Championships are held in Southern California in August, the international competition will feature only a handful of reigning titlists. Because the Covid-19 pandemic led to the cancellation of the 2022 edition, the meet has not been held since 2018, when action unfolded in Tokyo. Since that time, a number of champions have retired, while others have opted to not compete at this summer’s version of the meet.
In women’s competition, the United States’ Katie Ledecky will defend her 2018 crowns from the 400 freestyle, 800 freestyle and 1500 freestyle while Rikako Ikee will return to action in the 100 butterfly, which she won eight years ago in a time of 56.08. Canadians Taylor Ruck (200 freestyle) and Kylie Masse (100 backstroke) will try to nail down defense opportunities when their national trials are held in early July.
On the men’s side, the only returning champions are expected to be American Michael Andrew (50 freestyle) and Japan’s Ippei Watanabe (200 breaststroke). Andrew qualified for Pan Pacs in the 50 butterfly, but his roster presence will allow him to race the 50 freestyle in Irvine. Missing from the meet will be Australian Kyle Chalmers, the reigning champ in the 100 freestyle. Chalmers has opted to focus on the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, and bypass Pan Pacs.
