Summer McIntosh Breaks Her Own Commonwealth, World Junior Record With 4:28.61 400 IM

Yanyan Li
by Yanyan Li 10

December 02nd, 2022 Canada, National, News

2022 U.S. OPEN SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS

  • November 30-December 3, 2022
  • Greensboro Aquatic Center, Greensboro, North Carolina
  • Long Course Meters (50 meters)
  • Start Times:
    • Prelims: 9 AM (ET)
    • Finals: 6PM (ET)
  • Psych Sheets
  • Live Results

FRIDAY FINALS HEAT SHEET

WOMEN’S 400 IM – FINAL

  • World Record: 4:26.36 – Katinka Hosszu, HUN (2016)
  • American Record: 4:31.12 – Katie Hoff (2008)
  • U.S. Open Meet Record: 4:37.34 – Melanie Margalis, USA (2019)
  • U.S. Open Record: 4:31.07 – Katinka Hosszu, HUN (2015)
  • 2024 Olympic Trials Cut: 4:49.89

PODIUM:

  1. Summer McIntosh (SYS) – 4:28.61 WJR
  2. Emma Weyant (SYS) – 4:41.85
  3. Kathryn Hazle (NCA) – 4:47.56

Everyone, we just witnessed a 4:28 400 IM in-season.

Of course, the feat was done by none other than 16-year-old teenage phenom Summer McIntosh, who torched past her competition at the 2022 U.S. Open and won her race by 16.24 seconds. Her time of 4:28.61 beats out her former Commonwealth, Americas, World Junior, and Canadian Record time of 4:29.01 set at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, and is the fourth-fastest performance in the history of the 400 IM.

Every day, McIntosh is creeping closer and closer to Ye Shiwen‘s elusive 2012 mark of 4:28.43, which is the fastest 18-and-under swim of all-time, and Katinka Hosszu‘s world record time of 4:26.36.

Top 5 Performances, Women’s 400 IM

  1. Katinka Hosszu, Hungary — 4:26.36 (2016)
  2. Ye Shiwen, China — 4:28.43 (2012)
  3. Katinka Hosszu, Hungary — 4:28.58 (2016)
  4. Summer McIntosh, Canada – 4:28.61 (2022)
  5. Summer McIntosh, Canada — 4:29.01 (2022)

As you can tell from the splits, where McIntosh was substantially faster tonight that she was in the summer was on fly. She opened in a blazingly fast sub-minute fly leg tonight (59.40), which was a full 1.14 seconds faster than what she opened in at the Commonwealth Games (1:00.54). To put into perspective just how fast her opening split was tonight, 59.40 would have finished fourth in the individual 100 fly at the U.S. Open.

McIntosh was also 0.53 seconds faster on back than she was at the Commonwealth games. So despite being slower on her back half tonight compared to her previous personal best, her improved speed on the front half was enough for her to drop time.

Comparative Splits, Summer McIntosh Commonwealth Games vs. U.S. Open

SUMMER MCINTOSH, COMMONWEALTH GAMES (previous WJR) Summer McIntosh, 2022 U.S. Open (current WJR)
Fly 1:00.54 59.40
Back 1:09.33 1:08.80
Breast 1:18.30 1:19.26
Free 1:00.84 1:01.15
Total 4:29.01 4:28.61

In 2022, McIntosh has been on a meteoric rise in the 400 IM. After coming into the year with a best time of 4:50.21, she first put the world on notice when she went 4:29.12 Canadian, World Junior, Americas, Commonwealth record at a Canadian trials prep meet in March. Then, she won the World and Commonwealth titles in the event, with her Commonwealth time of 4:29.01 resetting all of the previous records that she’s set in March.

Now, after breaking 4:29 for the first time, all eyes will be set on when McIntosh will approach that World Record time.

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Sherry Smit
1 year ago

Honest Question: Is Summer 100% disqualified from joining the NCAA? I understand she’s pro, but can she switch from being pro or is it not allowed since she’s already gotten sponsorship?

Admin
Reply to  Sherry Smit
1 year ago

The sponsorship doesn’t matter. The time in the ISL matters.

There has always been some loophole, especially if you didn’t take pay from the pro league that you played in, or maybe if you pay back some money of the money, then you just sit out a few games/meets, and can play.

https://www.athleticscholarships.net/amateurforeign-2.htm

But there’s no clear black-and-white explanations.

Emily Se-Bom Lee
1 year ago

just realised that summer broke 4:30 3 times this year, each time while swimming under a different coach

Tracy Kosinski
1 year ago

She’ll have the WR by June/July, 100%.

We can assume she’d rapidly improve over the next few years, as will her breaststroke.

I predict a 4:25 low.

Dee
1 year ago

I had Hosszu’s WR in the Zige ‘zone’ – I.e. maybe in a decade, but you just can’t predict when a rare talent like McIntosh is going to tear through like a tornado. If 4.26 is still the WR when Paris gets underway, I’ll eat my hat.

Justin
Reply to  Dee
1 year ago

I’d truly be shocked if she hasn’t broken it by year end. If she equals her back half splits she’s a 4:27.3. Can see that record being 4:25 by Paris for her.

Lisa
Reply to  Dee
1 year ago

I think both IM world record can be broken between now and Paris as we saw with Summer and Walsh time this year

jpm49
Reply to  Lisa
1 year ago

Summer McIntosh in 2024 could also break the 200 IM record…

SwimmerFan99
1 year ago

59.40 opening 100FL split in a 400IM is unreal. A wicked swim – can’t wait to see what she can do this summer.

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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