Summer McIntosh Breaks Second World Record at Canadian Swimming Trials

Canadian swimmer Summer McIntosh solidified her status as one of the sport's brightest stars by setting a new world record in the 200-meter individual medley (IM) at the 2025 Canadian Swimming Trials, held at Saanich Commonwealth Place in Victoria, British Columbia. On Monday night, McIntosh clocked an impressive 2:05.70, surpassing the previous record of 2:06.12 held by Hungarian swimmer Katinka Hosszu since 2015.

McIntosh, who is just 18 years old, has been making waves in the swimming community, recently capturing her second world record in just three days, following her record-breaking performance in the 400-meter freestyle on Saturday. In that event, she registered a time of 3:54.18, which broke the previous mark set by Australian Olympic champion Ariarne Titmus. McIntosh's achievements come as she prepares for the upcoming World Aquatics Championships in Singapore, scheduled from July 26 to August 3, 2025.

"It's been one of those records that's always been in the back of my mind since trials two years ago," said McIntosh, who is the reigning Olympic champion in the 200m IM. "I've been knocking on the door on this one. I've just tried to chip away, chip away at it. To finally do it, it's kind of like, 'Wow, I've finally got that done.'"

Her latest record adds to a remarkable list of accomplishments, as McIntosh now holds three long-course world records: 400m freestyle, 400m individual medley, and 200m individual medley. Additionally, she has set multiple world records in short-course events, including the 400m freestyle, 200m butterfly, and 400m IM.

The Canadian Swimming Trials, which feature over 700 athletes, serve as a selection meet for international competitions, including the World Aquatics Championships. McIntosh's performances have garnered considerable attention, setting high expectations as she heads into these major events.

In an emotional display after her 400m freestyle record-breaking swim, McIntosh expressed her relief and joy. "Touching the wall, you can kind of see my outburst of emotions because I was really not expecting that time," she remarked. "After two years of really pushing my hardest every day and training in this event and not seeing the results… all that energy and anger and blood, sweat, and tears built up, and then finally having an amazing swim in it is just really, really satisfying."

Despite narrowly missing another world record in the 800-meter freestyle on Sunday with a time of 8:05.07, which ranks as the third-fastest swim in history, McIntosh remains focused on her performance in each race. "I'm trying to take it one race at a time," she explained. "Really kind of cruising the heats and then coming to every final super locked in and focused."

With her recent accomplishments, McIntosh is not just competing; she is reshaping the landscape of competitive swimming. As she prepares for the World Aquatics Championships, the swimming world watches closely, eager to see what this young athlete will achieve next. Her remarkable journey serves as an inspiration to aspiring swimmers around the globe, as she continues to push the boundaries of her sport.