Editorial content for the 2023 World Aquatics Championships is sponsored by FINIS, a longtime partner of Swimming World and leading innovator of suits, goggles and equipment. Summer McIntosh Skipping 200 IM at World Championships; Focused On Four Solo Events Due to conflicting timelines, major championship competitions routinely feature athletes opting out of events in which they would be a podium contender. That scenario has already presented itself for the upcoming World Championships in Fukuoka, where Canadian teenager Summer McIntosh will not contest the 200-meter individual medley. World Aquatics has posted its preliminary entry lists and McIntosh’s name is missing from the 200 medley, an event in which she owns the top time in the world this year (2:06.89). Of her potential events for the World Championships, the 200 IM figured to be the one McIntosh would drop as part of a program reduction. The semifinals of the event are scheduled for the same night as the final of the 400 freestyle, the longer event taking place first. In addition to the 400 freestyle, the 16-year-old McIntosh will also race the 200 freestyle, 200 butterfly and 400 individual medley. She is the world-record holder in the 400 free and 400 IM. She is also expected to see duty on Canadian relays. McIntosh will be one of the most-watched athletes at the World Championships and will be part of a major clash in the 400 freestyle, which includes the last two Olympic champions in the event and former world-record holders Ariarne Titmus of Australia and American Katie Ledecky. In McIntosh’s absence from the 200 individual medley, Americans Kate Douglass and Alex Walsh, and Aussie Kaylee McKeown will be the favorites for gold. McKeown, though, is a question mark for the event, as she also has a full program and is a top contender for gold in the backstroke events.
Pity, I would have liked to see her in 200IM, but there’s limits to what you can do. Last year she scratched the 200 free.