Swim star Summer McIntosh nominated for Laureus Award in breakthrough category
Summer McIntosh, the talented 18-year-old swimmer from Toronto, continues to receive accolades for her outstanding performance at the Paris Olympics last summer. Bringing home three gold medals and one silver, McIntosh has been nominated for a Laureus Award in the breakthrough category by World Aquatics.
Her remarkable achievements in Paris made her the first-ever Canadian athlete to win three gold medals at a single Summer Games. In addition to her Olympic success, McIntosh set numerous world records in 2024 and was honored as Canada’s athlete of the year for the same year. World Aquatics also recognized her as the female swimmer of the year.
Joining McIntosh in the breakthrough category are other exceptional athletes such as women’s sprinter Julien Alfred, men’s sprinter Letsile Tebogo, Spanish soccer star Lamine Yamal, French basketball player Victor Wembanyama, and Bayer Leverkusen’s Bundesliga-winning team.
In an exclusive interview with CBC Sports’ Devin Heroux, McIntosh revealed her plans to make a coaching change in pursuit of five gold medals at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. After training at the Sarasota Sharks facility in Florida under coach Brent Arckey, McIntosh is now looking to work with Bob Bowman, who famously coached American swimming legend Michael Phelps to 23 Olympic gold medals.
Bowman’s expertise in guiding swimmers with multi-event programs, as demonstrated by Frenchman Leon Marchand’s success in the recent Olympics, makes him an ideal choice for McIntosh. With her sights set on the world championships in Singapore at the end of July, McIntosh is determined to continue her quest for excellence in the pool.
The journey ahead for McIntosh promises to be filled with challenges and opportunities for growth. As she transitions to a new coaching environment and prepares for upcoming competitions, fans and supporters eagerly anticipate witnessing her continued success in the world of swimming.
