Summer McIntosh Secures Americas Female Swimmer of the Year Recognition
For all the female teen stars who have dotted the sport through the years, it’s become typical to ask: Who’s next? Swimming generally churns out precocious athletes, and Canadian Summer McIntosh fits the mold perfectly. For proof, look no further than the sensational 2023 campaign registered by the 17-year-old.
Throughout the 2023 season, McIntosh was nothing short of phenomenal. There were world records. There were world junior marks. There were multiple medals from the World Championships. And, as 2024 beckons, there is considerable hype to see what McIntosh will accomplish at the Olympic Games in Paris.
On the strength of two world championships and a pair of global marks during the year, McIntosh has been selected as Swimming World’s Female Americas Swimmer of the Year. She earned the honor over the United States’ Katie Ledecky. While Ledecky had a tremendous year, one that included two gold medals at the World Champs, McIntosh’s body of work was overwhelming.
Early in the year, McIntosh set the first two world records of her career while racing at the Canadian Trials for the World Championships. She initially clocked 3:56.08 in the 400 meter freestyle to break the previous record of Aussie Ariarne Titmus. A few days later, she blasted a mark of 4:25.87 to take down Katinka Hosszu’s 2016 standard in the 400 individual medley.
“I’ve been hoping to get a world record, especially in the 400 IM, since I was probably 11 years old,” McIntosh said. “To now actually achieve it is something that kind of blows my mind.”
Having relocated to Florida to train under Coach Brent Arckey with the Sarasota Sharks, McIntosh spent the majority of 2023 producing quick times. It didn’t matter if she was in heavy training. It didn’t matter if the race format was long course or short course. Simply, this kid is made for racing—and consistently performing at a high level.
At the World Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, McIntosh encountered a speedbump during the early stages of the meet. Racing the 400 freestyle, McIntosh surprisingly finished off the podium in fourth place, as Titmus lowered the world record the Canadian had set earlier in the year. But the hiccup did not hamper McIntosh throughout the remainder of the meet. Instead, she snared three individual medals, including two gold.
In addition to winning the 200 butterfly in a world junior record of 2:04.06, McIntosh secured a four-second triumph over American teenager Katie Grimes in the 400 IM, going 4:27.11. Both outings enabled McIntosh to repeat as world champion and complemented a bronze medal from the 200 freestyle. In that event, McIntosh posted a time of 1:53.65 to set another world junior mark. A fourth medal from the World Championships was earned as a member of Canada’s 400 medley relay, which captured bronze.
McIntosh’s year also included a world junior record of 2:06.89 in the 200 IM, which was the No. 1 time in the world, and a world-class performance of 2:07.15 in the 200 backstroke.
Like many of her rivals, McIntosh’s attention has turned toward the next Olympiad in Paris. She’ll head into the Olympic year as the overwhelming favorite to win gold in the 400 IM. More, she is expected to challenge for hardware in the 200 freestyle, 400 freestyle and 200 butterfly. Depending on how Canada’s relays develop, additional medal opportunities may exist.
Unquestionably, 2023 will be viewed as a massive success for the Canadian teen, whose range is captivating. In time, we may look at the year as a stepping stone to much more, such is the potential for McIntosh’s future.
TOP 5 AMERICAS (Women)
- SUMMER McINTOSH, Canada (11)……… 59
- Katie Ledecky, USA (1)…………………………… 49
- Regan Smith, USA………………………………….. 31
- Kate Douglass, USA………………………………… 29
- Lilly King, USA……………………………………….. 6
(First-place votes in parentheses)