Canadian swimming sensation Summer McIntosh has once again rewritten the record books, setting her second world record in just three days at the Canadian Swimming Trials held at Saanich Commonwealth Place.
The 18-year-old prodigy surpassed the women’s 200m individual medley world record, breaking a decade-old mark previously held by Hungarian legend Katinka Hosszu. McIntosh touched the wall in a time of 2:05.70, shaving 0.42 seconds off Hosszu’s 2015 world championship record from Kazan.
This achievement follows McIntosh’s record-breaking performance over the weekend, where she lowered the 400m freestyle world record by an impressive 1.2 seconds, surpassing the time set by Australia’s Ariarne Titmus.
“This has been a record I’ve had in the back of my mind since trials two years ago,” McIntosh said. “I’ve been steadily working to get closer, chipping away at it. To finally break it feels incredible.”
McIntosh’s remarkable run includes an Olympic gold medal haul from the recent Paris Games, where she claimed top honors in the 200m butterfly as well as the 200m and 400m individual medley events. She also earned a silver medal in the 400m freestyle at those Games.
Her performance at the trials has been nothing short of dominant. On Sunday, McIntosh clocked the third-fastest women’s 800m freestyle time in history, further cementing her status as one of swimming’s brightest stars.
Looking ahead, McIntosh is gearing up for the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore this July and August, where she is expected to be a leading contender across multiple events.
“Setting this new record in the 200 IM is a huge confidence boost heading into Singapore,” she remarked. “The 200 IM is one of my main races, and it demands perfect execution. It’s almost like a sprint for me, so there’s no room for error.”
In addition to her latest record, McIntosh currently holds the women’s 400m individual medley world record, having set a time of 4:24.38 at the Canadian Olympic Trials last year.
With her relentless pursuit of excellence, Summer McIntosh is shaping up to be a dominant force in international swimming for years to come.
