Summer McIntosh initially gained attention when, at the age of 14, she was the youngest member of Canada's team for the 2020 Summer Olympics
Follow Us
Summer McIntosh, the 16-year-old Canadian swimmer, has achieved a major victory by beating American swimmer Katie Ledecky in the 200m freestyle event at a Pro Series swim meet in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. With a winning time of 1 minute and 54.13 seconds, McIntosh broke her own world junior record and beat Ledecky by 0.83 seconds, marking Ledecky’s first defeat in a domestic freestyle event of 200m or longer since 2014.
McIntosh expressed her happiness with the win, saying, “I’m really happy with that swim.” This victory also puts her in the ninth spot in history for the 200m freestyle event. However, Ledecky is known for her dominance in longer freestyle distances and has won gold medals in events such as the 800m free at the London, Rio, and Tokyo Olympics.
At the 2020 World Championships, McIntosh won the 200m butterfly and 400m individual medley events and finished second to Ledecky in the 400m freestyle. She has broken more than 50 age category national swimming records. McIntosh broke the world record for the quickest time ever by a 14-year-old swimmer in the 400-meter freestyle in May 2021 with a timing of 4:05.13.
Read more: What is Katie Ledecky’s Net worth, Salary, and Brand Endorsements?
Read more: WATCH: Swimmer Katie Ledecky Breaks World Records in 800m, 1500m Freestyle Short-course
McIntosh initially gained attention when, at the age of 14, she was the youngest member of Canada’s team for the 2020 Summer Olympics, where she finished fourth in the 400 meter freestyle. She was branded a teen swimming star after winning two gold medals at the World Championships the following year, making her the youngest swimming world champion in more than ten years.
Ledecky, on the other hand, won gold in the 400m, 800m, and 1500m freestyle events, as well as the 4x200m free relay. While Ledecky has not yet confirmed her schedule for the 2024 Paris Olympics, where McIntosh is also expected to compete and be a multiple medal threat. The rivalry between these two talented swimmers is sure to continue. McIntosh’s win against Ledecky, who is widely regarded as one of the greatest swimmers of all time, shows that she is a rising star in the swimming world.
Alongside Summer McIntosh, her sister Brooke McIntosh, is an 18-year old figure skater who has also brought laurels to Canada. She won the bronze medal at the 2022 NHK Trophy. She is a 2023 national silver medalist, along with her skating partner, Benjamin Mimar.
Read more: Swimming: Who are the Current Best Swimmers in the World?
