Breaking News: Canadian 17 years old swimmer summer
Summer McIntosh’s remarkable achievements on the international swimming stage in 2023 earned her the title of The Canadian Press female athlete of the year.
“I’m very honored to receive the award; it’s really exciting,” McIntosh remarked.
Her combination of impressive speed and maturity beyond her years positions the Toronto teenager for a standout 2024.
Just weeks before turning 17, McIntosh successfully defended her world titles in the 200-meter butterfly and 400-meter individual medley in Fukuoka, Japan, making her a back-to-back double world champion.
“What I’m most proud of is the amount I’ve learned about myself and the insights I’ve gained from each experience,” McIntosh stated.
“Going into major competitions like the world championship, I don’t set specific expectations for myself in terms of placement or medals. I aim to reach my full potential in every race, and I believe I accomplished that for the most part.”
After finishing fourth in the 400-meter freestyle in her first race in Fukuoka, McIntosh rebounded with a bronze in the 200 free, followed by gold in her next two races.
“I had to learn how to bounce back after a disappointing race,” she explained. “Recovering mentally and physically and preparing for the next race was crucial. Since it was my first race of the meet, I had several other opportunities to perform well, so I moved forward and focused on what’s ahead.”
McIntosh concluded her four-medal performance by swimming the freestyle anchor leg, helping the women’s medley relay team secure bronze and qualify for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
Two world records set during Canadian trials in March set the stage for her outstanding world championship performance. McIntosh surpassed Hungary’s Katinka Hosszu’s 2016 Olympic 400 IM world record by nearly half a second.
