Summer McIntosh has once again rewritten the record books, setting her third world record in just five days at the Bell Canadian Swimming Trials in Victoria, British Columbia. On Wednesday night, the 18-year-old Canadian swimming sensation shattered her own world record in the women’s 400-meter individual medley with a stunning time of 4:23.65, trimming 0.73 seconds off the mark she set at last year’s Trials. This remarkable feat marks the third consecutive year McIntosh has lowered the 400 IM world record at the Canadian Trials, solidifying her dominance in one of swimming’s most grueling events.
McIntosh’s performance was nothing short of spectacular. She surged ahead early, particularly excelling in the backstroke leg, where she shaved about a full second off her 100-meter back split compared to her previous world record swim. Her aggressive front-half strategy paid off handsomely, allowing her to touch the wall nearly 12 seconds ahead of runner-up Mary-Sophie Harvey, who also qualified for the upcoming World Aquatics Championships with a personal best of 4:35.56.
“Going into tonight, I knew I could do something really special because this has probably been the best meet of my career,” McIntosh said in a poolside interview after her record-breaking swim. “World records are made to be broken. So by the time I leave this sport, I want to make sure that record is as fast as possible. That really keeps me going, because I know there’s always going to be the next generation of kids growing up, and they’re going to be chasing the record. So I’ve gotta give them my best effort to see how long it can stand.”
Her record-breaking spree began on the opening day of the Trials, Saturday, June 7, when she reclaimed the world record in the women’s 400-meter freestyle, becoming the first woman to break the 3:55 barrier with a time of 3:54.18. The next day, she posted the third-fastest time ever in the 800-meter freestyle with an 8:05.07, just 0.95 seconds shy of the world record set by American Katie Ledecky in May 2025. On Monday, June 9, McIntosh broke Hungarian Katinka Hosszu’s nearly decade-old 200-meter individual medley record, clocking in at 2:05.70. By Tuesday, she came within half a second of the women’s 200-meter butterfly world record, stopping the clock at 2:02.26.
Her extraordinary consistency and versatility across multiple disciplines have drawn comparisons to swimming legends. McIntosh is the first swimmer to break world records in three different individual events at one long course meet since Michael Phelps at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Phelps famously shattered records in the 200m and 400m IMs, 200m fly, and 200m free during that historic competition.
McIntosh’s coach, Fred Vergnoux, who has been guiding her through a training stint in France this year, praised her relentless work ethic. “He’s really taken me to the next level in the sport and pushed me farther,” McIntosh said. “I’ve gone way faster than I ever could have imagined.” After the World Championships in Singapore, scheduled from July 26 to August 3, McIntosh plans to move to Austin, Texas, to train under Bob Bowman, the legendary coach behind Phelps’ career.
Aside from McIntosh’s headline-grabbing feats, the Trials also showcased other rising Canadian talents. Ethan Ekk, an 18-year-old raised in Florida with Canadian roots, stunned spectators by breaking the Canadian record in the men’s 200-meter backstroke with a time of 1:56.54, shaving 0.20 seconds off the previous mark. Both Ekk and former national record holder Blake Tierney are set to compete at the World Aquatics Championships.
In the women’s 200-meter backstroke, 16-year-old Madison Kryger claimed victory with a time of 2:09.88, qualifying for the world championships alongside runner-up Ingrid Wilm. Kryger’s emotional reaction after the race reflected the immense dedication and hard work behind her breakthrough. “We’ve done so much training this year, it’s been so hard,” she said. “It just means a lot to finally see my hard work paying off.”
The men’s 400-meter individual medley offered a thrilling showdown as Olympians Tristan Jankovics and Lorne Wigginton battled fiercely, both securing spots in the world championships with times under the AQUA A qualifying standard.
As the Bell Canadian Swimming Trials conclude on Thursday night, anticipation builds around the announcement of Canada’s team for the 2025 World Aquatics Championships. Summer McIntosh’s historic streak has set a high bar, and all eyes will be on her and her compatriots as they prepare to face the world’s best in Singapore this summer.
McIntosh’s remarkable run of form continues to captivate the swimming world, blending youthful exuberance with a mature strategic approach to racing. Her ability to excel across freestyle, butterfly, and individual medley events is a testament to her comprehensive training and mental toughness. With her sights set on five individual events at the World Championships — including the 200m and 400m IM, 200m butterfly, 400m freestyle, and a choice among the 800m freestyle, 200m freestyle, or 200m backstroke — McIntosh is poised to challenge the sport’s elite once again.
As she prepares to transition to training under Bob Bowman, the coach who shaped Michael Phelps’ legendary career, McIntosh is embracing the challenge of pushing her limits even further. “I think world records are made to be broken,” she said, “and by the time I leave this sport, I want to make sure that record is as fast as possible.”
With a historic meet behind her and a promising future ahead, Summer McIntosh is not just chasing records; she’s inspiring a new generation of swimmers and redefining the boundaries of what’s possible in the pool.
