800m Freestyle: Summer McIntosh Secures Third Place Finish
Canadian swimmer Summer McIntosh has made a splash at the 2025 World Aquatics Championships in Singapore, establishing herself as one of the most dominant swimmers of her generation. With 13 career medals at the World Aquatics Championships—the most by any Canadian— including eight gold medals, McIntosh has proven her worth in the pool.
In the 2025 tournament, McIntosh won four gold medals: the 400m individual medley (IM), 400m freestyle, 200m IM, and 200m butterfly. She also added a bronze in the 800m freestyle to her medal count.
McIntosh's 400m IM win set a new championship record of 4:25.78, nearly eight seconds ahead of the competition. She now holds the top four fastest times ever in that event, including the world record of 4:23.65. This performance made her the second woman ever to win four individual golds at a single World Championships, following American Katie Ledecky's feat in 2015.
McIntosh is also the first Canadian to win four individual medals at a single World Championships. Her bronze in the 800m freestyle brings Canada's medal tally to eight, with Ilya Kharun contributing two bronzes—one in the men's 50m butterfly and another in the men's 100m butterfly.
Despite her impressive performance, McIntosh expressed dissatisfaction with her 800m freestyle race, stating that she hates losing more than she loves winning. American Katie Ledecky, however, set a new World Championships record in the women's 800m freestyle with a time of 8:05.62, leaving McIntosh in second place.
Looking forward, McIntosh has expressed strong motivation and is aiming to build on her success into next season and toward the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. While specific upcoming World Championship events for her have not been detailed, given her current dominance in multiple freestyle and medley events, she is expected to be a key competitor in future international competitions.
[1] World Aquatics Championships 2025 Official Results [2] CBC Sports - Summer McIntosh Wins Four Gold Medals at World Aquatics Championships [3] Swimming Canada - Summer McIntosh Shines at World Aquatics Championships [4] USA Swimming - Katie Ledecky Breaks World Championships Record in Women's 800m Freestyle [5] BBC Sport - Summer McIntosh Wins Four Gold Medals at World Aquatics Championships
[1] McIntosh's winning streak in the 2025 World Aquatics Championships was not limited to her gold medals – she also gained recognition for her sports-analysis, providing insightful commentary and analysis during interviews after her races.
[2] In addition to her remarkable swims, Summer McIntosh's impact has extended off the pool deck as she shares her extensive sports knowledge, making her a valuable analyst for future sports-related broadcasts and studies.
