Summer McIntosh, the 17-year-old Canadian swimming sensation, is making waves at the Paris Olympics, as she successfully qualified for the final of the women’s 400 meters individual medley. In her heat, she achieved a time of 4:37.35, finishing comfortably, although it fell short of her world record by 13 seconds. This impressive performance placed her as the third fastest qualifier behind American swimmers Emma Weyant and Katie Grimes.
The young athlete had previously garnered attention by earning her first Olympic medal—a silver in the women’s 400 meters freestyle, where Australia’s Ariarne Titmus took gold. Reflecting on her heat, McIntosh expressed satisfaction, noting that her main objective was to secure a favorable lane for the final, which she accomplished. In addition to her upcoming challenge in the medley, McIntosh is also a firm favorite for the 200 meters individual medley and 200 meters butterfly, which could solidify her status as one of the stars of the Games.
However, her path to glory may be contested by Australian swimmer Kaylee McKeown, who is a formidable competitor in the 200 meters individual medley and the defending champion in the 100 and 200 meters backstroke events from Tokyo. McKeown began her campaign on day three by advancing to the semi-finals of the 100 meters backstroke with one of the fastest times, setting up an anticipated rivalry with American swimmer Regan Smith.
The men’s 800 meters freestyle heats also generated excitement, with Ireland’s Daniel Wiffen leading the pack and coming remarkably close to breaking the Olympic record. Despite his success, some notable athletes, including Ukraine's Mykhailo Romanchuk, faced disappointment as they failed to advance.
As McIntosh prepares for the 400 meters individual medley final, a highly competitive evening of events awaits, featuring established stars like Titmus aiming for a second consecutive gold and rising talents looking to claim their spot on the Olympic podium.
5 Comments
MrNobody
A silver medal at such a young age is no small feat—go Summer!
Eugene Alta
Why are we comparing her to swimmers like Titmus? They’re in a different league.
KittyKat
She’s only 17 and received immense media attention. It feels a bit overrated.
Eugene Alta
At just 17, she’s already making her mark. Can’t wait to see her in future competitions!
Noir Black
Not impressed by McIntosh's time. It’s all just media hype at this point.