Summer McIntosh quickly transformed into one of the best middle distance and distance freestylers in the world.
But the Canadian teen phenom is more than a freestyler.
McIntosh proved that on Thursday at the TYR Pro Swim Series Fort Lauderdale stop, breaking the world junior record and, Canadian record U.S. Open record in the 200 butterfly.
McIntosh, swimming for the Sarasota Sharks, finished in 2:05.05.
She split 27.76, 32.49, 31.69 and 33.11 to close over a second faster than the field. Sandpipers’ Bella Sims was second in 2:09.89.
It was part of a banner 200 butterfly day for Canada as Ilya Kharun broke the Canadian record in the men’s race just minutes later.
Summer McIntosh said the 200 butterfly is one of her favorite races despite her not having swam it in months.
“From a young age, I have always had a love for the 200 fly because my mom used to swim the 200 fly. It is just such a grueling event and you have to have a specific mindset. I have kept the love for it,” Summer McIntosh said. “I have been doing a lot of fly training this year, more than last year. I haven’t swam it since worlds, so I was excited to see where I could It was just how it worked out. I didn’t want to swim it at Commonwealths. I wanted to do a few other events. I have a few that I am juggling, so I want to see where I can rest the most (in between). I am glad to be doing it again because it is one of my favorite events.”
It worked out quite well on Thursday at Ford Lauderdale Aquatic Center, breaking several records – though McIntosh’s first instinct was slight disappointment.
“Overall, I am happy with the race, but I was a little disappointed with the time since I was so close to 2:04, but I am really happy,” Summer McIntosh said.
The performance also proved she is able to juggle her events and still swim at an extremely high level.
“It is definitely a balancing act, especially in training. That is the fun of it, trying to be as good as in as many events as possible,” Summer McIntosh said.
With all the records piling up, McIntosh said her success in the water hasn’t begun to sink in.
“Definitely it has not sunk in,” Summer McIntosh said. “I don’t think it every will. I try not to focus on records, I just want to improve my times.”
That is what Kharun was thinking, too. He also broke the Canadian record in the event with a 1:54.59, going two seconds faster than his previous best.
“Two seconds, I did not expect that. That was unbelievable. I was expecting maybe a 1:56.0 or something,” he said.
Kharun was battling Trenton Julian, who led at the 50, 100 and 150 points of the race.
“I started out the first 100 trying to stay with them. The second 100 I just powered through. The final 50, I just tried to get Julian off of underwaters. I wanted to get him at the end,” Kharun said. “It is great to have (a record), but I don’t really know what to think about that yet.”
Good post. Thanks