McIntosh cruises to national record in women’s 800m freestyle at Canadian swimming trials
Summer McIntosh continued to showcase her dominance at the national swimming trials in Victoria on Sunday, setting a Canadian record in the 800-metre final with a time of 8:05.07. The 18-year-old from Toronto came just shy of breaking American Katie Ledecky’s world record of 8:04.12, solidifying her status as one of the top swimmers in the world. McIntosh’s impressive performance also stands as the third-fastest women’s 800m performance in history, a remarkable achievement for the young athlete.
In a post-race interview with CBC Sports’ Devin Heroux, McIntosh expressed her satisfaction with her performance, stating, “I’m always shooting to break records and push the boundaries of the sport, but overall I have to be happy with the best time. Those don’t come by very often once you get to the top level of the sport.” Despite her success, McIntosh acknowledged that she is still learning how to swim the 800m and looks forward to further improving her skills with her coach, Fred Vergnoux.
The national trials also saw Montreal’s Ilya Kharun emerge victorious in the men’s 100m butterfly, setting a personal best time of 50.37 seconds. Kharun narrowly beat out Toronto native Josh Liendo, who holds the national record in the event. Both swimmers expressed mutual respect for each other and are eager to continue pushing each other to new heights in future competitions.
Additionally, two Para swimmers set new Canadian records on Day 2 of the trials. Aly Van Wyck-Smart of Toronto established a new record in the women’s S3 200m freestyle, while Jordan Tucker of Guelph, Ont., set a record in the women’s S4 200m freestyle. These impressive performances highlight the depth of talent and diversity within the Canadian swimming community.
The national trials will determine the athletes who will represent Canada at the upcoming world championships in Singapore. The competition, running from June 7-12, features both preliminary heats and finals each day, with top swimmers vying for a chance to showcase their skills on the international stage. Fans can watch the action unfold on CBC Gem as the country’s top swimmers compete for a chance at glory.
