Canadian swimmer Summer McIntosh set a new world record in the 400m medley at the Canadian Swimming Trials in Victoria on Wednesday. The 18-year-old finished the race in 4 minutes 23.65 seconds, beating her own previous world record. This is her third world record in just a few days.
McIntosh, who already has three Olympic gold medals, delivered a strong performance ahead of the World Championships next month in Singapore. She improved on her previous record of 4:24.38, which she set last May at the Canadian Olympic Trials in Toronto.
The race started with McIntosh swimming the butterfly leg at a world-record pace. By the halfway point, she was more than a second ahead of her own record. After the breaststroke leg, her lead was reduced to a tenth of a second. She then finished with a powerful freestyle leg to complete an outstanding swim.
This record adds to an impressive week of performances for McIntosh in British Columbia. Last Saturday, she broke the women’s 400m freestyle world record, beating Australian swimmer Ariarne Titmus’s 2023 record by more than a second. On Sunday, she recorded the third-fastest 800m freestyle time ever. On Monday, she set a new world record in the 200m medley, breaking a mark held for ten years by Hungarian swimmer Katinka Hosszu.
Experts say McIntosh’s recent results make her a top contender for gold at the World Championships in Singapore. Her speed, skill, and stamina continue to impress the swimming community. Many believe she will inspire new young swimmers in Canada and worldwide.
