The latest insights from The Buzzer, CBC Sports’ daily email newsletter, focus on the upcoming key races at the swim world championships, with a special spotlight on Summer McIntosh’s pursuit of five gold medals and a thrilling all-Canadian clash. Additionally, exciting Canada-U.S. matchups are scheduled at the National Bank Open.
Looking forward to the swim world championships, Canada had a relatively quiet day in the pool at the ongoing world championships in Singapore. However, the upcoming weekend promises intense competition and potential medal triumphs for Canadian athletes.
Notably, Blake Tierney secured a remarkable fourth-place finish in the 200m backstroke event, showcasing a significant improvement from his performance at the Paris Olympics last summer. Tierney also set and broke the Canadian record in both heats and semis on Thursday.
The upcoming days hold the promise of Canada potentially clinching up to three individual medals, with Sunday possibly marking a triumphant moment for the Canadian contingent.
Highlighted are three key matchups to keep an eye on:
1. Josh Liendo vs. Ilya Kharun in the men’s 100 butterfly, scheduled for Saturday at 7:53 a.m. ET.
2. Summer McIntosh vs. Katie Ledecky in the women’s 800 freestyle, set for Saturday at 8:21 a.m. ET.
3. Summer McIntosh vs. Michael Phelps in the women’s 400 individual medley, taking place on Sunday at 8:15 a.m. ET.
The showdown between Summer McIntosh and Katie Ledecky in the women’s 800 freestyle is highly anticipated, being dubbed ‘The Race of the Century.’ McIntosh aims to match Michael Phelps’ record of five solo golds at a single world championship, while Ledecky is pursuing a milestone to equal Phelps’ all-time world championship victories.
In the women’s 400 individual medley, McIntosh is expected to dominate, having showcased exceptional prowess in the event. Her main challenger, Katie Grimes, trails behind McIntosh significantly in personal best times.
Viewers can catch the live action of the World Aquatics Championships on CBCSports.ca and CBC Gem, with additional coverage available on CBC TV. Reporter Devin Heroux will provide post-race insights and interviews from Singapore, joined by Brittany MacLean Campbell for analysis on The Ready Room show on YouTube.
Stay tuned for thrilling races and remarkable performances as the swim world championships unfold.