Canadian swimming star Summer McIntosh delivered a historic performance Sunday night, breaking the longest-standing individual women’s swimming world record.
The 19-year-old finished the 200-metre butterfly in 2 minutes, 1.65 seconds at the Canadian trials, setting a new global mark in front of a home crowd.
McIntosh Breaks Liu Zige’s 2009 Record
McIntosh’s time of 2:01.65 surpassed the previous world record of 2:01.81, set by China’s Liu Zige in 2009.
Liu’s record had stood since the so-called super-suit era, making McIntosh’s achievement even more significant in the sport’s history.
Emotional Celebration After Historic Swim
After touching the wall, McIntosh celebrated by slamming her fists into the water while smiling widely as the crowd inside the Olympic pool erupted.
The record had been a long-term goal for the Canadian swimmer, who came extremely close last year at the world championships with a time of 2:01.99, just 0.18 seconds away from the previous mark.
McIntosh Says the Record Means Everything
Speaking after the race, McIntosh said the moment meant everything to her.
She explained that while growing up, the 200-metre butterfly world record was the one record she believed she might never break.
Achieving it in Canada, in front of a home crowd, made the moment even more special.
McIntosh said she was still in shock after the swim.
First Major Home Appearance Since Training Move
Sunday’s race was also the first chance for many Canadian fans to watch McIntosh compete since her high-profile move to Austin, Texas.
She now trains under Bob Bowman, the coach best known for guiding Michael Phelps to a record 23 Olympic gold medals.
The move has drawn significant attention as McIntosh continues to build on her already impressive career.
Upcoming Events for McIntosh
McIntosh’s busy schedule at the Canadian trials continues throughout the week.
She is set to compete in the 400-metre individual medley on Monday, the 400-metre freestyle on Tuesday, and the 200-metre individual medley on Wednesday.
These events come ahead of the Pan Pacific Championships in Irvine, California.
Summer McIntosh’s world-record swim in the 200-metre butterfly marks another major milestone in her young career. By finishing in 2:01.65, she broke a record that had stood since 2009 and had long been considered one of the toughest marks in women’s swimming.
Her emotional reaction showed how much the achievement meant, especially after narrowly missing the record last year. With more events ahead at the Canadian trials and the Pan Pacific Championships approaching, McIntosh continues to strengthen her status as one of the world’s most dominant swimmers.