McIntosh breaks world record in women's 400m IM at Canadian swimming trials
CBC
The improbable has become somewhat routine for Canadian swimmer Summer McIntosh.
She delivered yet another stellar performance at the Olympic & Paralympic Trials on Thursday night by trimming over a second off her world-record time in the 400-metre individual medley.
"It sounds crazy but I think every time she dives in the pool we're expecting something spectacular because that's just the type of athlete she is," said teammate Kylie Masse.
McIntosh led by a full second at the 50-metre mark and was at world-record pace midway through the race. She seemed to get stronger over the final 100 metres and finished in four minutes 24.38 seconds.
WATCH | McIntosh breaks her own world record in 400m IM at Canadian trials:
"I was really just focusing on having fun with the race and taking it 100 at a time because it's a pretty mentally challenging race," McIntosh said. "Overall I'm really happy. I've always had fun with it and I definitely did [tonight]."
Her previous world mark of 4:25.87 was also set at the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre in April 2023.
It was McIntosh's third win of the Trials. She kicked off the event on Monday with a dominant showing in the 400 free, leaving the field well behind.
McIntosh has been so far out in front in both prelims and finals this week that the only drama is between her and the clock. On this night, she conquered it.
The partisan crowd let out a roar when the hometown favourite was introduced and the noise only got louder through the race.
"It really keeps me going," McIntosh said. "If they weren't there I don't think I would have had the 4:25 world record in the first place, let alone this one tonight."
WATCH | 'A little bit surreal right now' — McIntosh reacts to record 400m IM:
McIntosh is the two-time defending world champion in the 400 IM. She'll appear in her second Olympics this summer in Paris.
She broke out as a 14-year-old at the Olympic Trials in 2021 and just missed the podium at the Tokyo Games that summer.
