Summer McIntosh Breaks 200 Free World Junior Record In A Time Of 1:53.65

2023 WORLD AQUATICS CHAMPIONSHIPS

During the final of the women’s 200 free at the 2023 World Championships, 16-year-old Summer McIntosh had a bounce-back swim after missing the podium in the 400 free. In her race, McIntosh clocked a time of 1:53.65 to take bronze and beat her former World Junior and Canadian record time of 1:53.91 set that the Canadian Trials this April.

McIntosh is now the fifth-fastest performer of all-time in the women’s 200 free.

All-Time Top Performers, Women’s 200 Free:

  1. Mollie O’Callaghan, Australia — 1:52.85 (2023)
  2. Federica Pellegrini, Italy — 1:52.98 (2009)
  3. Ariarne Titmus, Australia — 1:53.01 (2023)
  4. Allison Schmitt, United States — 1:53.61 (2012)
  5. Summer McIntosh, Canada — 1:53.65 (2023)

McIntosh swam a very consistent race. She flipped at the 100-meter mark in second and got passed by Australia’s Mollie O’Callaghan on her back half, but she did just enough to hold on Hong Kong’s Siobhan Haughey for bronze.

Compared to her former World Junior Record, McIntosh was 0.24 seconds slower going out, but 0.5 seconds faster coming home. At Worlds, she was able to keep all of her splits under 29 seconds.

Splits Comparison:

Summer McIntosh, 2023 World Championships Summer McIntosh, 2023 Canadian Trials
50m 27.03 27.02
100m 28.79 28.56
150m 28.95 29.29
200m 28.88 29.04
Total 1:53.65 1:53.91

McIntosh had a rough start to her World Championships, adding nearly four seconds in the 400 free to finish fourth overall after entering the meet as the World Record holder. Being able to set a best time in the 200 free should shift her meet in a more positive direction.

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Lotus
7 months ago

that’s much more like it

Yooo
1 year ago

What she’s accomplishing at her age is unbelievable, I hope she just keeps it fun/enjoyable and doesn’t burn out mentally like so many top athletes do

Riser
1 year ago

Glad to see Summer has her groove back. That was a real gutsy swim to take the Bronze although I do feel bad for Siobhan as she swam a great race as well and had the bad luck to be in a final where a WR and WJR took place to go along with a PB from Titmus.

Congrats to MOC on her WR!

Anne
Reply to  Riser
1 year ago

swimmers can set their own goals, swim pb, but can’t control the competition

Jasmine
1 year ago

Rooting for her to win the 200m fly for sure!

Jimmyswim
1 year ago

Very interested to see her last two individuals.

I think the 200 fly will be a close battle and she’ll still nail the 400IM. Looks like the first day really was just a bad day but she’s looked great since.

ScovaNotiaSwimmer
1 year ago

So close to the Americas Record!

jpm49
Reply to  ScovaNotiaSwimmer
1 year ago

R.T. 0.81

ScovaNotiaSwimmer
Reply to  jpm49
1 year ago

I know 😬 I thought that she’d be a bit further ahead in terms of her explosive power after this year but she’s still very young.

Fan
1 year ago

I think those split comparisons for Summer for 2023 Fukuoka are incorrect. Possibly Ariarne’s splits

Last edited 1 year ago by Fan
Anything but 50 BR
Reply to  Yanyan Li
1 year ago

The splits are correct but I think the Total is Ariarne’s time. Should be 1:53.65, not .01

Fan
Reply to  Yanyan Li
1 year ago

They have since been corrected. Thanks

Gladi
1 year ago

Congrats Summer. But as a HongKonger, I really feel sad for Siobhan, she got 4th again and never got medal in Long course world champ …I wish she can win in the coming 100m, keep going Siobhan!!

About Yanyan Li

Yanyan Li

Although Yanyan wasn't the greatest competitive swimmer, she learned more about the sport of swimming by being her high school swim team's manager for four years. She eventually ventured into the realm of writing and joined SwimSwam in January 2022, where she hopes to contribute to and learn more about …

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