Summer McIntosh swims to new Canadian, Commonwealth-record time in women’s 800m
Summer McIntosh continues to make waves in the world of swimming, showcasing her incredible talent and breaking records along the way. At the Southern Zone South Sectional Championships in Plantation, Fla., the 18-year-old phenom shattered a Canadian and Commonwealth record in the women’s 800-metre freestyle event with a remarkable time of 8:09.86. This impressive performance ranks as the 10th fastest time ever recorded in the event, with the legendary Katie Ledecky holding the top nine spots, including the world-record time of 8:04.79.
McIntosh’s time at the championships would have been enough to claim Olympic gold in Paris just seven months ago. However, she chose to focus on a demanding schedule that included four individual events, opting out of the 800m freestyle. Despite this decision, McIntosh made history by becoming the first Canadian athlete to secure three gold medals at a single Games, whether winter or summer.
The dominance of the 800m freestyle by Ledecky, a stalwart in the event for over a decade, showed signs of weakening last year at the same meet. In February of 2024, McIntosh went head-to-head with Ledecky and emerged victorious, setting a new national record time of 8:11.39 and besting Ledecky’s previous mark of 8:17.12. This victory marked the first time Ledecky had been defeated in the event in over 13 years, a testament to McIntosh’s exceptional talent and determination.
The year 2024 proved to be a standout year for McIntosh, as she was honored as the Northern Star athlete of the year in Canada. Her stellar performance at the Olympics, where she clinched four medals, including three golds, solidified her status as a rising star in the world of swimming. Additionally, McIntosh set multiple world, world junior, Canadian, and Commonwealth records throughout the year, earning her the title of World Aquatics female swimmer of the year.
Following her success at the world short course championships in Budapest last December, where she secured three world records and multiple medals, McIntosh is back in action at the Southern Zone South Sectional Championships. Looking ahead, McIntosh and her Canadian teammates are gearing up for the long course world championships in Singapore, set to commence in July.
This remarkable young athlete’s journey is nothing short of inspiring, as she continues to push the boundaries of her sport and etch her name in swimming history. With her unwavering dedication and exceptional talent, Summer McIntosh is undoubtedly a force to be reckoned with in the world of competitive swimming.
