Toronto's Summer McIntosh shattered the world record in the 200-metre butterfly on Sunday at the Canadian Swim Championships in Montreal, eclipsing the oldest standing world mark in women's swimming.
Record-breaking performance
McIntosh, a three-time Olympic gold medallist from the 2024 Paris Games, won the Canadian 200 fly title in 2 minutes 1.65 seconds. That time erased the previous world record of 2:01.81 set by China's Liu Zige in October 2009 in Jinan, China. Liu's mark was the last remaining women's world record from the supersuit era, when polyurethane suits boosted performances before they were banned by FINA in 2010.
"As you can see by emotions, this means the absolute world," McIntosh told event broadcasters after the historic swim. "Growing up, this is the one world record that I thought I would never break. To do it tonight is really special in front of a home crowd. It means the absolute world. I'm in shock right now."
Race details
The 19-year-old swam the first 50 metres in 27.45 seconds and then powered through the final length as the home crowd roared. "The last 50 was pure adrenalin," McIntosh said. "I could hear the crowd going crazy and I knew I was probably under, or close to, world-record pace, so that's really what kept me going."
McIntosh, whose mother competed at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, now owns world records in four events: the 200m butterfly, 200m individual medley, 400m individual medley, and 400m freestyle. She won Olympic gold in the 200m and 400m individual medleys in Paris, in addition to the 200m fly title. Her eight career world titles include crowns last year in Singapore across the 200m and 400m IM, 400m freestyle, and 200m butterfly.
Looking ahead
McIntosh will be a favourite in multiple events at next month's Pan Pacific Championships in Irvine, California. Her record-breaking swim adds to her legacy as one of the most dominant swimmers in the world.
