Summer McIntosh Pushing Toward Legendary Status

‘I Always Want More:’ Hunger of Summer McIntosh Pushing Her Toward Legendary Status

Her identify sits within the No. 1 slot in three occasions. She’s No. 2 all-time in a pair disciplines. In a 3rd occasion, she might be discovered as historical past’s No. 5 performer. Yes, the dominance of Summer McIntosh is one thing to behold, the 18-year-old Canadian already a fantastic within the sport.

Despite her youth, McIntosh has set 9 world data – six within the long-course pool and three in short-course competitors. But there’s extra to return from the teen, who grew to become a world-record setter below coach Brent Arckey, earlier than shifting her coaching to the steerage of Fred Vergnoux for this 2025 marketing campaign. Soon, she’s going to transfer to Austin and be a part of the high-powered professional group overseen by Bob Bowman on the University of Texas.

As McIntosh shifts from the primary 12 months of the quad to a three-year roadmap to the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, she’ll proceed to push the clock in her world-record occasions. How low can she go within the medleys? At the second, she’s the one lady in historical past to go sub-2:06 (2:05.70) within the 200 IM, and her world report of 4:23.65 within the 400 IM is nearly three seconds quicker than what anybody else has managed.

In the 400 freestyle, McIntosh lately took the worldwide customary from Australian ace Ariarne Titmus, reducing the mark from 3:55.38 to three:54.18. Titmus, a two-time Olympic champion within the occasion, is predicted to quickly return to competitors after taking a post-Olympic break, and the prospect of future duels between the ladies is attractive – to say the least. Can they nudge each other to never-before-seen occasions?

Meanwhile, there’s unfinished enterprise in her different major occasions – the 200 butterfly and 800 freestyle. In the 200 fly, McIntosh went 2:01.99 on the World Championships, simply lacking the 2009 world report of two:01.81, set in a super-suit by China’s Liu Zige. Upon seeing how shut she got here to breaking the report at Worlds, McIntosh shared a one-word response. It was pure emotion, precisely what followers ought to wish to see from athletes. How can one not love and respect the fervour?

As for the 800 freestyle, McIntosh ended up successful bronze within the occasion on the World Champs, Katie Ledecky and Aussie Lani Pallister ending within the gold and silver positions. The final result didn’t sit properly with McIntosh, who was open along with her emotions throughout post-race interviews. She needed extra.

“(I’m) just trying to learn how to swim the race,” McIntosh mentioned at Worlds. “This is only my second time swimming it internationally, the other time being when I was 14. So lots to learn. This is my favorite race, so that definitely will fuel me to continue to do it until I master it, and execute it the way I want it and stand on top of the podium at the international level.”

As a lot because the aforementioned 5 occasions determine to dot McIntosh’s packages going ahead, there’s room to ask: What else can she do? Her versatility results in such a question, and the 200 freestyle and 200 backstroke are the place solutions are most sought.

The 200 freestyle is the occasion the place McIntosh ranks because the No. 5 performer in historical past, off a private better of 1:53.65. That time was registered on the 2023 World Championships in Fukuoka, the place McIntosh positioned behind the Aussie tandem of Mollie O’Callaghan and Titmus. McIntosh has raced the occasion from time to time since, however not at a serious occasion and never in peak type. Without query, there’s rather more within the tank.

Then there’s the 200 backstroke, the place McIntosh might be a disruptive drive to the present hierarchy. The all-time rankings present McIntosh because the No. 30 performer of all-time, in a mark of two:06.81. That time is from the U.S. Open on the finish of 2023 and McIntosh has by no means raced the occasion on the massive stage. Put these components collectively and you may solely surmise what’s doable.

The 2026 season will probably be not like something we’ve seen within the sport since 2018. There isn’t any world meet. Instead, outcomes from the European Championships, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games and Pan Pacific Championships will probably be in contrast for a digital competitors, which can function a buildup to the 2027 World Champs in Budapest.

McIntosh has indicated that her focus subsequent 12 months will probably be on Pan Pacs, the Commonwealth Games not a part of her agenda. It’s a logical determination, given Pan Pacifics will solely necessitate a flight from Texas to California, and never a visit from the Lonestar State to Scotland, web site of Commonwealths. Pan Pacs, too, will function competitors from each the United States and Australia.

As a bridge meet between editions of Worlds, maybe the Pan Pacific Championships will see McIntosh showcase her prolonged vary. A return to the 200 freestyle? A run on the 200 backstroke? Obviously, a mainstay occasion should briefly give. If nothing else, the timing works, for come the 2027 World Champs in Budapest, a costume rehearsal for LA28 is the probably strategy.

As McIntosh closed out her World Championships in Singapore, she was already trying forward.

“Overall, (I’m) happy with my meet, but (I) always want more,” she mentioned.

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