Summer McIntosh Breaks Second WR in 3 Days at Canadian Trials

Summary:

• McIntosh set a new world record in the 200m IM at the Canadian trials.
• The 18-year-old had already broken the 400m freestyle world record earlier in the week.
• McIntosh now holds three long-course and three short-course world records.

Summer McIntosh is putting Canadian swimming on the map, and doing it with remarkable ease.

The 18-year-old from Toronto added another world record to her growing list of achievements on Monday at the Canadian Olympic & Paralympic Trials in Victoria. 

This time, it was in the 200-metre individual medley, where she touched the wall at 2:05.70, a time that wiped out a nearly decade-old record held by Hungary’s Katinka Hosszu (2:06.12 set in 2015).

“I Knew I Could Do Something Special in Every Single Event”

McIntosh told CBC’s Devin Heroux after the race. 

I knew going into trials I could do something special in every single event. I’m really excited for 200 fly tomorrow and 400 IM. … There’s definitely a lot more I can achieve here. Just kind of celebrating tonight but then really trying to calm myself down and get ready for tomorrow.

McIntosh’s form this week has been nothing short of electric.

Just three days earlier, she smashed the world record in the 400m freestyle, and not long after, she clocked the third-fastest time ever in the 800m freestyle, setting a new Canadian record in the process and nearly catching American legend Katie Ledecky’s world-best time.

6 Long- and Short-Course World Records for McIntosh

With this latest triumph, McIntosh now holds six world records: three in long-course meters, the 200 IM, 400 IM, and 400 freestyle, and three in short-course: the 200 fly, 400 IM, and 400 free. 

Few swimmers in history have ever dominated across such a wide range of disciplines and distances.

Speaking to Swimming Canada she said,

It’s been one of those records that’s always been in the back of my mind since trials two years ago. I’ve been knocking on the door on this one. I’ve just tried to chip away, chip away at it. To finally do it, it’s kind of like ‘Wow, I’ve finally got that done.’

After her breakout performance at the Paris Olympics last summer, where she earned three golds and a silver, McIntosh isn’t letting up. 

Her eyes are already on Los Angeles in 2028, where she hopes to chase five individual medals.

But first, she’s focused on finishing strong this week in Victoria, where trials also double as a qualifier for the World Championships in Singapore, kicking off July 26.

And based on her current form, the best may still be ahead.