Swim star Summer McIntosh nominated for Laureus Award in breakthrough category

The accolades continue for Summer McIntosh.

The 18-year-old swimmer from Toronto, who brought home three gold medals and one silver from the Paris Olympics last summer, was nominated for a Laureus Award in the breakthrough category by World Aquatics on Monday.

McIntosh's performance in Paris made her the first-ever Canadian athlete to win three gold medals at a single Summer Games. 

Also in 2024, McIntosh added numerous world records to her resumé, was named Canada's athlete of the year for 2024 and female swimmer of the year by World Aquatics.

Joining McIntosh in the breakthrough catergory are women's sprinter Julien Alfred of Saint Lucia and men's sprinter Letsile Tebogo (both Olympic champions), Spanish soccer star Lamine Yamal, French basketball player Victor Wembanyama and Bayer Leverkusen's Bundesliga-winning team.

In an exclusive interview last week with Devin Heroux of CBC Sports, McIntosh said she would be making a coaching change to help in her pursuit of five gold medals at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.

This will be her last season training at the Sarasota Sharks facility in Florida with coach Brent Arckey.

McIntosh is eyeing Bob Bowman, who coached American Michael Phelps to a record 23 Olympic gold medals, including eight at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, to help her. Bowman has a wealth of experience in helping a swimmer with a multi-event program, most recently this past Olympics when Frenchman Leon Marchand won four gold medals.

McIntosh will now look to prepare for the world championships in Singapore at the end of July.

WATCH | McIntosh 'changing lanes' in pursuit of 5 gold medals at 2028 Olympics:

Changing lanes: Canadian Olympic champion Summer McIntosh to leave her Florida training base

4 days ago

Duration 22:44

The Toronto native and three-time Olympic champion will leave her Sarasota, Fla., training base following this summer's world championship. Among her future options could be joining American coach Bob Bowman, former coach of Michael Phelps, in Texas.