Sport

Summer McIntosh Shatters Three World Records in Just Five Days—A Remarkable Achievement!

2025-06-12

Author: Ying

In an astonishing display of talent, Summer McIntosh has made history by becoming the first swimmer since the legendary Michael Phelps to break world records in three different individual events at a single long course meet. This remarkable feat occurred during the Canadian trials for the upcoming World Championships in Singapore.

McIntosh, an 18-year-old prodigy from Toronto, clinched her third world record in just five days by smashing her own mark in the 400m individual medley. On Wednesday, she completed the race in a blistering 4 minutes and 23.65 seconds, surpassing her previous record of 4:24.38 set at the 2024 Canadian Olympic Trials.

"I felt I could do something extraordinary tonight, especially since this meet has been the best of my career," McIntosh shared in a poolside interview. "World records are meant to be broken, and I want to make mine as fast as possible before I leave this sport."

Earlier in the week, McIntosh reclaimed the world record in the 400m freestyle on Saturday and broke a decade-old record in the 200m individual medley on Monday. Her performances have not only been record-breaking; she also recorded the third-quickest time in history for the 800m freestyle and the second-fastest time ever for the 200m butterfly.

Speaking about her success, McIntosh credited her temporary coach Fred Vergnoux, with whom she has been training in France. "He has elevated my game and pushed me to speeds I never thought possible," she said.

McIntosh's current success has put her in the spotlight alongside Phelps, who famously won eight golds during the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Phelps is the only swimmer to have won five individual events at a single Olympics or World Championships, a milestone McIntosh aims to match at this summer's World Championships.

Planning to compete in five individual events, including both IMs and the 200m fly, the anticipation for her potential match-up against the legendary Katie Ledecky in the 800m freestyle is palpable.

Ledecky, a four-time reigning Olympic gold medalist and considered one of the greatest distance swimmers of all time, could face stiff competition from McIntosh, who last raced the 800m at the Tokyo Olympics when she was just 14.

Vergnoux has expressed confidence in McIntosh’s abilities, stating that while it’s rare for swimmers to transition to longer distances, there’s no pressure on her to compare with previous greats. "Our focus is on daily performance and improvement," he insisted.

After the World Championships, McIntosh will head to Austin, Texas, to join the ranks of Bob Bowman, Phelps's long-time coach, marking another exciting chapter in her burgeoning career.