Summer McIntosh Goes 3:52.80 400 Free: “I did not think I would ever go that”

2022 FINA WORLD CUP – TORONTO

Day One Finals Heat Sheets 

Reported by Sophie Kaufman.

WOMEN’S 400 FREE – FINALS

  • World Record: 3:51.30, Li Bingjie (CHN) – 2022
  • World Junior Record: 3:53.97, Wang Jianjiahe (CHN) – 2018
  • World Cup Record: 3:53.97, Wang Jianjiahe (CHN) – 2018

PODIUM:

  1. Summer McIntosh (CAN) – 3:52.80 WJ WC
  2. Katie Ledecky (USA) – 3:52.88 AR
  3. Siobhan Haughey (HKG) – 3:58.50

It was an electric first race of the session in the women’s 400 freestyle, as Katie Ledecky and Summer McIntosh went head-to-head in a rematch of this year’s LC Worlds. They had definitively separated themselves from the field by the halfway point.

Ledecky had the lead for the majority of the race, but at the sixteen-year old McIntosh took over the lead at the 275-meter mark. Ledecky took the lead back with 50 meters left in the race and was ahead at the final turn, but McIntosh surged on the final 25 to touch first by .08 seconds and give Canada a win in the very first event. She came home in 14.87 seconds compared to Ledecky’s 14.95. McIntosh’s time of 3:52.80 is a new world junior and World Cup record, breaking Wang Jianjiahe‘s record from 2018.

For her part, Ledecky set a new American record, eclipsing the 3:54.06 she set in 2019 at her lone ISL meet.

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Mike McCormack
2 years ago

We’re just here for this incredibly fun ride! The pair came off of that last wall like bulls… crazy powerful women! Summer’s first whiff of a WR. Missed it by just a handful of hours, but no concern; a lot of competing ahead. Thank you, Katie and Summer, for that thrilling contest.

SwimmerFan99
2 years ago

An unrested 3:52.80 from a 16-year-old girl. Never thought I’d see the day. Would have been WR if not for Bingjie’s insane swim the other day! Look at how much progress this event made in just 2 days. The WR Titmus’ was 3:53.92 until Wednesday, then suddenly 3 swimmers other than Titmus went under that mark. Exciting stuff!

Mr Piano
Reply to  SwimmerFan99
2 years ago

Nobody’s ever rested

Viking Steve
Reply to  Mr Piano
2 years ago

Except for olympics and Words when they ‘recently fought through a minor illness or injury” 🙂