Pan Pac 2026 Preview: Finke–Short Lead Irvine Showdowns
SwimSwam previews the 2026 Pan Pacific Championships in Irvine, noting a thinner field due to withdrawals (including Kaylee McKeown and Mollie O’Callaghan) but highlighting several marquee showdowns: Bobby Finke vs. Sam Short in the 800 free (Short healthy after winning Commonwealth Games titles; Finke aiming to rebound), a rising men’s 100 breast field led by Shin Ohashi and Sam Williamson, Summer McIntosh squaring off with Katie Ledecky and Lani Pallister in the 400 and 800 frees, a deep 400 IM with Leon Marchand and company, and a head-to-head in the women’s 50 free between Gretchen Walsh and Kate Douglass (Meg Harris a potential spoiler). McIntosh skips the 800 free; Tomoru Honda is out due to a criminal incident; Florian Wellbrock is among four Europeans racing Pan Pacs. The piece frames several races as likely LA28 precursors and notes the meet’s tilt toward men’s head-to-heads amid notable absences.