Canadian swimmer Summer McIntosh clinched her first gold medal at the swimming world championships in Singapore, aiming for a total of five individual gold medals. The 18-year-old athlete from Toronto won the 400-meter freestyle event, setting the pace for her ambitious goal. McIntosh’s victory marked her fifth career gold at the long-course worlds, tying her with fellow Canadians Kylie Masse and Penny Oleksiak for the most medals won by a Canadian.
While McIntosh didn’t break her own world record, she finished first in the race with a time of 3 minutes 56.26 seconds. Li Bingjie from China secured silver with a time of 3:58.21, closely followed by American swimmer Katie Ledecky who took home the bronze with a time of 3:58.49. McIntosh’s success in the 400-meter freestyle event comes after her silver medal win at the Olympics last year.
McIntosh’s impressive performance continued as she qualified first in the 200-meter individual medley with a time of 2:07.39, just 25 minutes after her 400-meter freestyle victory. Expressing her satisfaction with her current form, McIntosh stated her determination to excel in all her upcoming races following her promising start at the championships.
In addition to her individual events, McIntosh is set to compete in the 400-meter individual medley and the 200-meter butterfly, showcasing her versatility and competitive spirit. Another highly anticipated race awaits as McIntosh is scheduled to face off against Katie Ledecky in the 800-meter freestyle event, a highlight anticipated by swimming fans.
The first day of the championships also saw victories in the relay events, with Australia securing gold in both the men’s and women’s 4×100 freestyle relays. Notably, Chinese swimmer Yu Zidi, at just 12 years old, made an unexpected entry into the women’s 200-meter individual medley final, demonstrating her potential and determination to excel in the competition.
Meanwhile, concerns arose as the United States team faced challenges due to some members contracting “acute gastroenteritis” during a training camp in Thailand before the championships. Despite the setback, all American swimmers made it to Singapore for the competition.
The competition continues with high expectations for McIntosh and other top swimmers vying for victory in their respective events, promising an exciting and intense display of talent and determination at the world championships.