Canadian Olympic swimming legend deems Summer McIntosh as innately set for greatness
In the vibrant city-state of Singapore, 18-year-old Summer McIntosh, a Canadian swimming sensation, continues to make waves in the world of aquatics.
Born on August 18, 2006, in Toronto, Ontario, McIntosh has quickly risen to prominence in international swimming. Her talent in the pool is partly attributed to her Olympic swimmer mother, Jill Horstead, who competed at the 1984 Los Angeles Summer Olympics.
McIntosh's achievements are nothing short of impressive. At the 2024 Paris Olympics, she won three gold medals and a silver medal before her 18th birthday, earning her the title of one of Canada's most promising and successful swimmers of her generation.
One of her most notable victories came at the 2025 World Aquatics Championships in Singapore, where she clinched gold in the 200-meter individual medley with a time of 2:06.69. This victory was particularly significant as she beat renowned swimmer Katie Ledecky, signifying her competitive edge at the elite level.
McIntosh is aiming to win two more gold medals at the world championships, which would tie her with Michael Phelps for the most individual gold medals won during a world championship.
On Friday, McIntosh competed against Ledecky, the reigning Olympic champion and America's best female swimmer. Despite Ledecky finishing over five seconds ahead of McIntosh in the 1500-metre freestyle, McIntosh showed her resilience by winning the second heat and having the third-best total time after Australia's Lani Pallister and Ledecky.
The championship ends with a 400-metre individual medley final this Sunday, where McIntosh will strive to break more records and add to her impressive collection of gold medals.
Anne Ottenbrite-Muylaert, a three-time Olympic medalist and the first Canadian woman to win Olympic gold in swimming, considers McIntosh as "seasoned" and "prepared for the stress and pressure." Ottenbrite-Muylaert believes Canada will see more athletes like McIntosh in the future.
McIntosh's time in the 200-metre butterfly was 2:01.99 seconds, just short of the world record. Despite missing the record by a small margin, her performance at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore has solidified her status as one of the world's top swimmers.
Canada has won a total of six medals at the World Aquatics Championships, five in swimming and one in high diving. As the championships come to a close, the spotlight remains on McIntosh, who continues to captivate audiences with her intrinsic preparation and determination.
The article was compiled with files from the Canadian Press.
Sports news reports highlight Summer McIntosh's pursuit of two more gold medals at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore, aiming to tie Michael Phelps' record for the most individual gold medals won during a world championship. Despite finishing second to Ledecky in the 1500-meter freestyle, her second heat win and third-best total time indicates her resilience and competitive potential.
