During the second day of the Canadian swimming trials in Montreal, Summer McIntosh claimed victory once again. The 19-year-old Toronto native triumphed in the women’s 400-meter individual medley, clocking in at 4 minutes 27.35 seconds. Although she fell short of her own world record of 4:23.65 set in last year’s national trials in Victoria by nearly four seconds, McIntosh expressed a desire to analyze her performance to improve for the upcoming Pan Pacific Swimming Championships.
Under the mentorship of renowned coach Bob Bowman, known for coaching Michael Phelps and French star Léon Marchand, McIntosh is aiming to refine her skills. Ella Jansen from Burlington, Ont., secured the second spot with a time of 4:38.17, while Mary-Sophie Harvey from Trois-Rivieres, Que., completed the podium with a time of 4:43.26.
McIntosh made waves on the previous day by shattering the long-standing women’s 200-meter butterfly world record from the 2009 supersuit era. The achievement caught the attention of her idol, Michael Phelps, who congratulated her on Instagram. Reflecting on her success, McIntosh shared her gratitude for the support and inspiration she receives from Phelps.
In addition to her recent victories, McIntosh holds world records in the 200 IM and 400 freestyle. With a remarkable performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where she secured four medals, including three gold, the young swimmer aims to clinch five gold medals at the 2028 Los Angeles Games.
On the men’s side, Lorne Wigginton of Calgary broke an 18-year-old national record in the 400m individual medley, surpassing Brian Johns’s previous record set at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. Taylor Ruck, a 26-year-old from Kelowna, continued her winning streak by claiming victory in the women’s 100m freestyle after winning the 100m backstroke on the opening night. Kylie Masse, a five-time Olympic medallist, secured another title in the women’s 50 meters, while Ruslan Gaziev and Javier Acevedo clinched victories in the men’s events.