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World Championships: Summer McIntosh Wins 200 Fly In WJR Of 2:05.20; Flickinger & Zhang On Podium
Summer McIntosh set her second world junior record in as many days as she became world 200 fly champion aged just 15.
The Canadian went ahead at the 150 mark and pulled away on the final lap to touch in 2:05.20, taking 0.59 off the previous standard of 2:05.79 she set on Tuesday.
Hali Flickinger came from fourth to second to take silver in 2:06.08 with Zhang Yufei third in 2:06.32.
At 15 years 308 days, McIntosh becomes the youngest Canadian to win world gold, eclipsing Victor Davis who was 18 years and 176 days when he won the 200 breaststroke in 1982.
McIntosh also became the youngest world champion since 2011 when Ye Shiwen won the 200IM in Shanghai.
On the significance of becoming a world champion at 15, she said:
“It means a lot. It’s one of my biggest dreams in the swimming world to become world champion and especially to do it in the the 200 fly is something I’ve always wanted to do as it’s one of my favourite events.”
Of the race itself, she added:
“The first 100 – second 50 – I definitely pushed it a little bit.
“Then I didn’t think much until the last 50: I just literally gave it my all and did everything I could. I put in all my energy and all my focus and got to the wall and put my hand on the wall as fast as I possibly could.”
Flickinger, who won bronze in Tokyo, said:
“Yeah, it was a lot of fun. I just came out here to race and have fun. [McIntosh] had a great race so I am just happy to get a medal for the U.S.”
On what it takes to continue competing year after year, the three-time world medallist added:
“A lot of hard work. That’s not exactly what I wanted, but I am still chasing a goal that I have had for a long time and I am going to work as hard as I can until I can’t anymore.”
Results
- Summer McIntosh (CAN); 2:05.20 WJR
- Hali Flickinger (USA); 2:06.08
- Zhang Yufei (CHN); 2:06.32
- Regan Smith (USA); 2:06.79
- Elizabeth Dekkers (AUS); 2:07.01
- Lana Pudar (BIH); 2:07.85
- Helena Bach (DEN)/Boglarka Kapas (HUN); 2:08.12
