For the second year in a row, World Aquatics has named Summer McIntosh and Leon Marchand as its female and male swimmers of the year.
Coming off 2024 as the most decorated individual swimmers in the Paris Olympics, the Bob Bowman-trained duo relinquished no power this year.
McIntosh, 19, she left absolutely no question as to who would win the women’s crown. Before championships season even started, the Canadian phenom had perhaps the best meet of any swimmer this decade. At her country’s 2025 World Championship trials, she unleashed three long course new world records:the 400 freestyle (3:54.18), 200 IM (2:05.70), and 400 IM (4:23.65). The latter record already belonged to McIntosh, while the first two were taken from the legendary Ariarne Titmus and Katinka Hosszu, respectively.
These three swims made McIntosh the first swimmer to break three world records in the same meet in the post-supersuit era. Just as impressive, though, were the two swims she didn’t break world records in. She blasted a 2:02.26 200 fly to post the #2 performance in history. She shocked the world by dropping an 8:05.07, a four-second drop from her new best time from February and one second within Katie Ledecky.
With all eyes on her in Singapore, McIntosh did not disappoint. She struck gold in the 200 IM, 400 IM, 400 free, and 200 fly. In the latter event, she improved upon her trials time with a 2:01.99, making her the fastest textile by over a second and a half. At the end of the week, McIntosh closed off her meet with a bronze in the fastest 800 freestyle in history, narrowly behind Ledecky and Lani Pallister.
Post Singapore, McIntosh switched to coaching under Bowman after her short stint in France with Fred Vergnoux. Austin is clearly treating her well, as she posted her #2 fastest times ever in the 400 free and 200 fly at the U.S. Open. Unfortunately, an illness barred McIntosh from converting her success to SCM at the World Cup stops in her home continent.
McIntosh’s French teammate, 23-year-old Marchand, didn’t boast as decisive of a win as his Canadian counterpart. However, he still undoubtedly earned it. Like a handful of other men, Marchand walked away from Singapore with two gold medals, his coming in the 200 IM and 400 IM. The separating factor was the magnitude of his winning times. In his 200 IM final, he utterly blew past Ryan Lochte’s 14-year-old world record, knocking it from 1:54.00 to 1:52.69. Then, in the 400 IM, he produced a 4:04.73, faster than any other person has ever swum in textile.
At the Carmel stop of the World Cup, Marchand podiumed four times in three days. Then, to cap off his year, the reigning 200 fly Olympic Champion threw down a 1:52.79 at the U.S. Open. This time would’ve earned him silver in Singapore.
Year-End Rankings LCM, McIntosh and Marchand
McIntosh:
- #1 400 free
- #1 200 fly
- #1 200 IM
- #1 400 IM
- #2 800 free
- #9 200 back
- #11 100 fly
- #21 200 free
Marchand:
- #1 200 IM
- #1 400 IM
- #2 200 fly
- #9 200 breast
- #9 400 free
- #23 100 fly
- #31 200 back
- #40 100 breast
See World Aquatics’ “athlete of the year” award for other sports here.
This could easily be your winners for the next 3 years consecutively
I mean the only swimmers who I can see reach near their level the next few years are Yu Zidi and Luka Mijaktovic but that’s assuming they keep on progressing
1 of those does not belong
Well written article. Thanks Will
If they ever had offspring, they would be something to be reckoned with.
GOAT Summer next world record 200 and 800 free, 200 back and 100, 200 fly
200 back ? 100 back ? No way
200 back and 100 fly
No way 100 fly 💀 57.0 at the same meet she went 2:02.6, girl is not dropping 2.5 seconds in a 100
Never doubt the GOAT
I could see a 55 mid if she moves into shorter distances as she ages, 54 is too much though. Ledecky would never be a 51.5 100 freestyler, as good as she is
54.30 is possible for Macqueen
Marchand is listed at 6 foot 2 and McIntosh at 5 foot 8
That does not appear to be the gap, based on that photo. One or both of the numbers is wrong.
Summer is def 5’10 or 5’11
Summer is taller than 5’8 lol
Even MOC is 5’9 LMFAO
Those list heights often get locked in when someone first hits the database. Nobody bothers updating them. So when you first hit them at 14 or 15 like summer..,easy to imagine a few more inches of growth.
Not going to be the last time for this duo…. they are going to be competing more with history than their peers going forward…
I wonder if Swim Swam will follow suit and pick McIntosh for female swimmer of the year for their swammy awards?
I would hope so. Why wouldn’t they.
Gee I wonder
I mean by individual medal count, she had the best Worlds meet that a woman has ever had (and second only to Phelps overall)