McIntosh breaks 3rd world record this week at Canadian swimming trials
Superstar teen from Toronto surpasses her own record in 400m individual medley
Summer McIntosh authored more history at Canadian swimming trials in Victoria on Wednesday, breaking her own world record in the women's 400-metre individual medley.
The 18-year-old from Toronto touched the wall in a time of four minutes, 23.65 seconds, eclipsing her previous record of 4:24.38, set at last year's national trials.
McIntosh now lays claim to each of the top three results in the 400m IM's history.
She is the first swimmer to break a world record in three different individual events at one long course meet since Michael Phelps at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The last woman to break three individual world records at one long course meet was Inge de Bruijn of the Netherlands at the 2000 Sydney Games, according to Olympic historian Bill Mallon of the OlyMADMen.
"I think 400 IM is the race I've come close to mastering for myself," McIntosh told CBC Sports' Devin Heroux.
"Happy to go best time. I think there's still lots of room for improvement in and out of the turns. ... overall happy with the time, but I know I can go faster."
WATCH | McIntosh breaks her own 400m IM world record, 3rd world record from 2025 trials:
McIntosh has also broken worlds records in the 400m freestyle and the 200m IM over the last four days, while also notching national records in the 800m freestyle and 200m butterfly.
Wednesday's result concludes McIntosh's 2025 trials, in what undoubtedly has been one of the most successful individual swimming meets ever.
Summer McIntosh's Trials:<br><br>400m freestyle -- world record<br>800m freestyle -- Canadian record<br>200m individual medley -- world record<br>200m butterfly -- Canadian record<br>400m individual medley -- world record<br><br>She will compete in these events at the world championships this summer.
—@Devin_HerouxShe now looks to turn the page and focus on world championships in Singapore from July 27-Aug. 3.
"Now that I'm done [at trials], I can kind of chill out. I've got a double tomorrow for training," McIntosh laughed.
"You really just use this as motivation and also validation for my training so far, and just to keep pushing and moving forward and working even harder from now until Singapore."
This latest benchmark result is the ninth overall world record performance of McIntosh's career.
HERO’S WORLD RECORD WELCOME<br><br>Penny Oleksiak, one of Canada’s most decorated Olympians with 7 medals, right there to greet Summer McIntosh after her third world record in five days.<br><br>A beautiful moment between two gifted athletes. <a href="https://t.co/BLIYDRyhsl">pic.twitter.com/BLIYDRyhsl</a>
—@Devin_HerouxFans turned up in droves at the Saanich Commonwealth Place pool, expressing loud support for McIntosh throughout the competition, endeavouring to spur the young star on in her momentous pursuit.
"I cannot thank any of these people enough. It's absolutely amazing to see everyone in the stands and the posters," McIntosh said.
Finishing second in the race was Mary-Sophie Harvey of Trois-Rivières, Que., whose 4:35.56 time will qualify her to compete in the event at the world championship.
Ekk surges to men's 200m backstroke record
Ethan Ekk, who was born in Tallahassee, Fla., but has Canadian parents from Vancouver, won the men's 200m backstroke in a national record time of 1:56.54.
The 18-year-old, who competes for the Stanford University swim team, surpassed the previous national record of 1:56.74, set in 2024 by Blake Tierney.
WATCH | Ekk makes a statement, winning 200m backstroke in Canadian record time:
Tierney, a 23-year-old Olympian from Saskatoon, placed second in the event with a time of 1:57.04.
Ekk expressed excitement and surprise at his final result, saying he did not expect to touch the wall in a sub-1:57 time.
"Not at all. I thought I was going to go, like, 57 [seconds] high, and 56.5 is very unimaginable, so I'm very happy with that time," Ekk said.
"I was just hoping tonight I could go under 58," he added.
Both Ekk and Tierney will advance to compete in the discipline at the world championship.
Bennett nearly breaks own Para record
Nicholas Bennett of Parksville, B.C., came just short of breaking his own SM14 world record (2:05.97) in the Para men's 200m individual medley.
The two-time Paralympic champion, who grew up swimming in the Saanich Commonwealth Place pool and had family in attendance, won his event in a time of 2:06.36.
As he now turns focus to the world championship, he says he can build upon Wednesday's result.
"With that race right now and five months to train just leading into [worlds], it's exciting," Bennett said.
"When we get a little more endurance under our belt we'll be able to challenge my world record again."
Bennett says he's been apartment hunting in Montreal and plans to move there following worlds in September.
Other results on Day 5
- Tristan Jankovics won the men's 400m individual medley in a time of 4:13.15.
- Jordan Tucker, SM14 class, completed the women's 150m individual medley in 3:41.18.
- Jaime Cosgriffe, SM10 class, took the women's 200m individual medley in 2:35.57.
- Madison Kryger won the women's 200m backstroke in a time of 2:09.88 to cap Day 5 finals.
