Summer McIntosh Pulls Out Of 1500 Freestyle On Final Day Of Canadian Trials

2021 CANADIAN OLYMPIC SWIMMING TRIALS

After swimming to Olympic-qualifying victory in the 200 and 800 freestyles over the first few days of racing at the 2021 Canadian Olympic Swimming Trials, Summer McIntosh has scratched out of the 1500 freestyle final.

McIntosh was entered as top seed in the event originally with a 16:15.19 which she swam a few weeks ago at a time trial in Toronto. McIntosh would have been one of 2 swimmers in the field with an entry time under the 16:32.04 FINA A cut as Emma O’Croinin is entered with a 16:30.46.

O’Croinin will now be the top-seeded entrant and will be joined by Katrina Bellio with a 16:34.99, Abby Dunford with a 16:39.54, and Olivia Anderson with a 16:40.40.

McIntosh scratched from the 1500 after delivering powerful victories in both the 200 free and 800 free which both qualified the 14-year-old for her first Olympic Games. In the 200 freestyle, McIntosh posted a 1:56.19 to become the fastest 15 & under swimmer in the history of the event and took out pre-selected Olympian Penny Oleksiak who hit a 1:57.24,

In the 800, McIntosh threw down an 8:29.48 PB as the only swimmer in the field to crack the FINA A cut of 8:33.36. Katrina Bellio was close behind with an 8:38.12.

In addition to her 200 and 800 freestyle selections, McIntosh could potentially be selected to race the 400 freestyle at the Games considering that no one got under the 4:07.90 FINA A cut in the final and she recorded a 4:05.13 just last month.

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Wallace
3 years ago

Dunford put some work in with Sandpipers…certainly a candidate to do some damage.
Sandpipers quickly becoming very attractive .
Again, why isn’t Ron Aitken on the Olympic Coaching staff to Tokyo.

Laneline
Reply to  Wallace
3 years ago

The harsh reality is because none of the girls are expected to medal. Michael Andrew’s coach was named to team (his dad) put 1 swimmer on team but Michael is very much a candidate for gold. It’s the quality not quantity mentality. Aitken is accompanying them to training camp in Hawaii.

Hswimmer
Reply to  Laneline
3 years ago

Grimes could medal with another drop and Sims in 4 x 200 freestyle relay. Sullivan possibly in the mile also….

Laneline
Reply to  Hswimmer
3 years ago

But Andrew’s could medal as of today without having to project drops and individually vs relay.

Canuswim
3 years ago

200 Fr same session as 1500 in Tokyo so makes sense to drop. To be frank never considered distance as Mcintosh’s strength as she is very strong in fly/bk and IM events, but no times posted in well over a year. Should be a good race for the remaining girls and predicting several under Fina A as entry times seem very dated.

Go, Summer, go!
Reply to  Canuswim
3 years ago

Distance events are not Mcintosh’s strength?!! All Canadian girl NAG records both LCM and SCM up until 14 yo in 800 & 1500 belongs to Summer. If this is not strength….

Last edited 3 years ago by Go, Summer, go!
Canuswim
Reply to  Go, Summer, go!
3 years ago

Mcintosh has age group records all the way up in so many events and strokes. On a relative basis Mcintosh’s strength is not distance, so not surprised she dropped the 1500. With the lack of racing in Canada we have yet to see how other events have progressed.

Kharris
Reply to  Canuswim
3 years ago

According to a source (very) close to her, Summer hates swimming the 1500 event!

Mike
3 years ago

Don’t sleep on Dunford. She trains with the Sandpiper distance girls that just did so well at US trials. I think this is the only event she is swimming. She is an animal in the open water swims I’ve seen her in!

Laneline
Reply to  Mike
3 years ago

Watched Dunford in Florida couple months ago and was on way sub 16:30 but lightening struck literally and her and Sullivan and heat pulled from water.

swimgirl
3 years ago

Did Overholt also scratch the 400IM?

Jeepers
Reply to  swimgirl
3 years ago

Looks like it’s a timed final.

swimgirl
Reply to  Jeepers
3 years ago

Right but I didn’t see her in the start list

Njones
Reply to  swimgirl
3 years ago

It looks like it. By the comments of her dad in the 2fly post race interview sounds like she may be retiring. If so great career to be proud of and best wishes for healthy next steps.

Arthur
3 years ago

If anyone has any info on why she is scratching or why she didn’t swim the 400 I’d appreciate it. Does she not want to swim the 1500 or does she think she can still get nominated for it without swimming?

Jeepers
Reply to  Arthur
3 years ago

She already has the A time for 400 free. Not sure about 1500. She will most likely be swimming them.

Catherine
Reply to  Arthur
3 years ago

If she can get nominated for the 400 free based on her swim from a few weeks ago, that must also be true for the 1500. But there’s a decent chance that two women will be under the cut today which would leave her out. I can see why swimmers would not want to do both. Given that there is so much overlap between finalists in the 800 and 1500 free at international meets, it wouldn’t surprise me if FINA decides to drop the 800 at the Olympics once and for all.

There's no doubt that he's tightening up
3 years ago

I guess McIntosh doesn’t want to do the 200/1500 double at Olympics that Ledecky is attempting? Smart move I guess.

Would be amazing if McIntosh and Pellegrini can both final in the 200 free (is it too much to ask for both to medal?!). Pellegrini already had silver medals in the 200 free at both Olympics and World Champs before McIntosh was even born .

Awsi Dooger

I think it’s more that she doesn’t want to do the 800 and 1500. That might become a trend. Sullivan didn’t seem as energized in the 800 final after already qualifying at 1500. And it could have been reversed motivation and energy for the two of them in the 800 if Grimes had narrowly pulled out second place at 1500.

Smith-King-Huske-Manuel
Reply to  Awsi Dooger
3 years ago

Erica Sullivan has never been as good in the women’s 800 meter freestyle as the women’s 1500 meter freestyle.

Smith-King-Huske-Manuel

Katie Ledecky is the only individual to attempt the insane.

Laneline
Reply to  Smith-King-Huske-Manuel
3 years ago

But Ledecky has not attempted yet…. Adding 2×1500 to her lineup for the first time in a Tokyo. My bet she drops something.