Summer McIntosh: “I learned so much from world championships”

2023 U.S. OPEN SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS

  • November 29-December 2, 2023
  • Greensboro Aquatic Center, Greensboro, North Carolina
  • Long Course Meters (50 meters)
  • Start Times
    • Prelims: 9 AM (ET)
    • Finals: 6 PM (ET)
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After her win in the 400 free in a championship record time (3:59.42), we spoke to world champion and world record holder Summer McIntosh at the US Open in Greensboro, North Carolina. The 17-year-old reflected on the ups and downs she experienced this summer at the world championships and how it has impacted her outlook on the current Olympic season.

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Yozhik
11 months ago

I can’t get used to new standards in women competitive swimming when 4:02 is considered a pedestrian swimming and 3:59.4 doesn’t even get on the list of best performances.

Awsi Dooger
11 months ago

Her shoulders have really filled out. Breaking the 4 minute mark will become very routine for her, whether she’s motivated or not. And there’s so much room with improve with the turns and underwaters. A few of those turns looked like slow motion.

CanuckSwimmer
11 months ago

She is so chill. Really love the vibes she gives off, like an old soul.
Way to go Summer 👏

Pieter H
11 months ago

She already learned from Fukuoka first day. She quickly moved on and blasted PBs in 200 free and 200 fly.

At 17 yo, she already won FOUR world championship individual golds.

There are extremely few elite swimmers who won four individual worlds golds in their *lifetime*

Even the venerable Pieter Van den Hoogenband *never* won Worlds gold.

She’ll cement her status as one of the greatest female swimmers when she win Olympics golds.

Robbos
Reply to  Pieter H
11 months ago

Amazing that she is only 17 years old & as Pieter says, already has 4 world golds, about to enter her 2nd Olympics, being favourite in the 400IM & 200Fly, among the favs in 200IM & the 400Free & 200Free.
The biggest decision for her is what races does she do, does she overload (5 individuals) or pick & choose, will depend how she is swimming at the time.

CanuckSwimFan
Reply to  Robbos
11 months ago

At this point I’d strongly bet she skips the 200fr. If I’m reading the Paris schedule correctly, that event’s ht & semis are Day 2 , the final is same session as 400 IM. With 400fr ht & final Day 1 and 400IM ht & final day 3 that would seem to be an incredibly difficult schedule. For arguably her weakest ranked event. Also throw in 4×1 fr duties on day 1.

phelpsfan
Reply to  CanuckSwimFan
11 months ago

Why is everyone so insistent that she’ll swim the 4x100m FR relay? Didn’t she have one of the worst splits on the team at Worlds. IMO she’ll probably only be racing on one relay (4x200m FR)

Tanner-Garapick-Oleksiak-McIntosh
Reply to  phelpsfan
11 months ago

Summer did have a subpar split on the 4x100m FR relay. That was not too long after her 4th place finish in the 400 free final. Something was definitely off that day with her but she rebounded really nice when she swam the anchor leg in the 4×1 medley on the final day to secure the bronze medal for Canada while holding off the swimmer for China. I guess if Penny or Taylor are back and in better form by the time Paris rolls around then Summer may not have to swim the 4×1 anchor.

CanuckSwimFan
Reply to  phelpsfan
11 months ago

perhaps I should have said ‘possibly’ the 4×1 but I don’t think I was ‘insisting’. As per T-G-O-M comment, Summer had a good anchor in the medley at the end of the meet – a lowish 53 I think. I don’t think she will be expected to swim in the heats. And perhaps only in the finals if T. Ruck and Penny O have regained any kind of form that might make Canada a contender. Otherwise beyond the reliable Maggie M. our 4×1 free talent pool is fairly shallow at the moment. Of course someone might rise to the occasion but so far this year we haven’t seen any one new surface. We have see several good junior swimmers this… Read more »

Nick the biased Aussie
11 months ago

Just swim your own race, go for it and don’t look back. Show no fear.

Hooked on Chlorine
Reply to  Nick the biased Aussie
11 months ago

Just like Ariarne did.

About Coleman Hodges

Coleman Hodges

Coleman started his journey in the water at age 1, and although he actually has no memory of that, something must have stuck. A Missouri native, he joined the Columbia Swim Club at age 9, where he is still remembered for his stylish dragon swim trunks. After giving up on …

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