Canadian swimmer Summer McIntosh shattered the women’s 400-meter freestyle world record on Saturday evening, clocking in at a remarkable three minutes 54.18 seconds at the national swimming trials held in Victoria. McIntosh surpassed the record set by Australia’s Ariarne Titmus in 2023 at the world championships in Fukuoka, Japan, with a time of 3:55.38, leaving her competitors trailing by over 13 seconds.
This achievement marked McIntosh’s fourth long-course world record, a rare display of emotion from the typically composed 18-year-old. Reflecting on her performance, McIntosh expressed surprise at her speed, emphasizing her strong training in recent months. Ella Jansen from Burlington, Ont., secured second place with a time of 4:07.36, meeting the World Aquatics qualifying standard and earning a spot on Team Canada for the upcoming World Aquatics Championships.
McIntosh’s first world record was in the 400 free at the 2023 Canadian trials, before Titmus claimed the record at the world championships. Despite securing silver behind Titmus at the Paris Olympics, McIntosh has amassed an impressive collection of gold medals in various events. Additionally, she holds world records in the 400 IM, 200 butterfly, and 400 IM in short course pools.
Surpassing the 3:55.00 mark, McIntosh’s historic performance surprised even the three-time Olympic champion herself. Following her race, McIntosh acknowledged her admiration for swimming legend Michael Phelps, who had previously set a world record in the same Victoria pool.
Looking ahead, McIntosh remains enthusiastic about her upcoming races, including the 800m freestyle, 200m freestyle, 200m butterfly, and both the 200m and 400m individual medleys. In a separate event, Kylie Masse claimed victory in the women’s 100m backstroke, setting a new personal best time and reflecting on the significance of the race for her.
The Canadian swimming trials in Victoria witnessed other notable winners, including Mary-Sophie Harvey, Oliver Dawson, Cole Pratt, Ethan Ekk, Aly Van Wyck-Smart, Ali Diehl, and Nicholas Bennett. The event coverage continues on CBCSports.ca and CBC Gem.
In the U.S. Swimming Championships in Indianapolis, Katie Ledecky secured her third national title of the week, dominating the women’s 1500 meters with a comfortable win. Ledecky’s time of 15 minutes, 36.76 seconds fell short of her own world record set in 2018 but showcased her exceptional talent in long-distance swimming.
These remarkable performances highlight the outstanding achievements and promising future of these talented swimmers on the international stage.
