Canadian swimming phenom Summer McIntosh ended an extraordinary week at the Canadian Olympic trials by breaking her own world record in the 400-meter individual medley on Thursday night. The 17-year-old clocked an astonishing time of 4:24.38, just 0.06 seconds faster than her previous world-best mark set in April 2023.
McIntosh dominated the race from the opening stroke, pulling away from the competition during the breaststroke leg and sealing the victory with a strong freestyle finish. The performance not only earned her a spot on Canada’s Olympic team but also marked her fourth win of the week — capping a string of world-leading times in multiple events.
Over the course of the trials, McIntosh also posted the fastest times in the world this year in the 200-meter freestyle, 200-meter butterfly, and 400-meter freestyle, reinforcing her status as a top contender for gold in Paris. Her consistency and versatility across events have drawn comparisons to some of the sport’s all-time greats.
Having made her Olympic debut in Tokyo at just 14 years old, McIntosh has quickly matured into one of Canada’s most promising athletes. With the Paris Games just weeks away, she heads into the international spotlight carrying not only national hopes but the weight of global expectations as well.
