Summer McIntosh Demonstrating Impressive Range Beyond Freestyle Events
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic delaying the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo by a year, the leadup to the Paris Games in 2024 is a short three years. While Romanian freestyle ace David Popovici, a 16-year-old, is a youngster to watch on the men’s side, a great deal of attention will be paid to 15-year-old female standout Summer McIntosh.
McIntosh acquitted herself superbly during her first Olympic Games, where she was fourth in the 400-meter freestyle and a member of the Canadian 800 freestyle relay that just missed the podium. McIntosh also contested the 200 freestyle and 800 freestyle, gaining valuable experience for the international competitions that await.
On Thursday and Friday, as the International Swimming League (ISL) launched its third season, McIntosh made an impressive debut with the Toronto Titans. Competing in Naples, McIntosh didn’t just help the Titans to a runnerup finish behind Energy Standard, she demonstrated her talent stretches beyond the freestyle events.
McIntosh claimed a pair of victories in the short-course competition, with each of her wins arriving in a personal-best time. In the 200 butterfly, McIntosh touched the wall in 2:06.61, an effort that sliced nearly four seconds off her previous best. She followed by prevailing in the 400 individual medley, her time of 4:30.05 an eight-second improvement over her prior best.
While McIntosh was expected to be a medal contender on the international stage in the distance-freestyle events, her performances in her ISL debut only enhance the excitement level over what she is capable of doing as she continues to emerge as a global factor.
