Canadian Summer McIntosh ‘Not Happy’ With World-Leading 400 Free

2024 CANADIAN OLYMPIC & PARALYMPIC TRIALS

Day one of the 2024 Canadian Olympic & Paralympic Trials kicked off from Toronto tonight and already 17-year-old Summer McIntosh made her presence known in a big way.

Racing in the final of the women’s 400m free, McIntosh fired off a winning time of 3:59.06 to get to the wall first, handily defeating the field by over 9 seconds.

Runner-up status went to Julie Brousseau who touched in 4:08.12 while Julia Stojnowska also landed on the podium in 4:11.08 for bronze.

McIntosh’s effort rendered her the #1 swimmer in the world at the moment, taking the crown from Australia’s reigning Olympic champion and world record holder Ariarne Titmus. Titmus previously ranked #1 with the 3:59.13 notched at last month’s Australia Open Championships.

2023-2024 LCM Women 400 Free

Ariarne AUS
Titmus
06/10
3:55.44
2Katie
LEDECKY
USA3:58.3506/16
3Summer
McINTOSH
CAN3:59.0605/13
4Erika
FAIRWEATHER
NZL3:59.4402/11
5Bingjie
LI
CHN4:01.6202/11
View Top 31»

McIntosh’s performance overtook her prior season-best of 3:59.42 punched at the U.S. Nationals in November.

McIntosh and Titmus have been playing a cat-and-mouse game in recent history, with McIntosh taking the world record away from Titmus last year before Titmus reclaimed the mark at the 2023 World Championships.

Despite a head-turning performance, teen McIntosh told the Canadian press post-race that ‘she wasn’t happy’ with her performance.

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TomDeanBoxall
1 month ago

Found this online.

Her average stroke length increased 2.4% compared to her PB and World Junior Record, for the same average swimming speed over the race, despite different pacing strategies.

On the other hand, the total number of dolphin kicks decreased 32%, and the turns (5+15 m) added 2.20 s to the total race time, compared to her PB

Greg P
Reply to  TomDeanBoxall
1 month ago

Very interesting.

Maybe she was just trying out different strategy.

It reminds me of what Camille Muffat did in 400 in the months before London 2012.

Muffat tried several different race strategies throughout France Nationals, Mare Nostrum, and Sette Coli.

She went out super fast.

Or she backhalfed like crazy.

Or even pace.

Funnily, all strategies resulted in similar time.

Last edited 1 month ago by Greg P
TomDeanBoxall
Reply to  Greg P
1 month ago

It’s funny the turns haven’t quite come together yet for McIntosh which was painfully obvious in the last two turns.

Playing devil’s advocate here, but is it possible she may have purposely slowed after the 300 once she realised she was falling off pace (I think she’s commented before that she can see the clock while swimming)? Again, it’s probably just more likely that she simply got tired.

Greg P
Reply to  TomDeanBoxall
1 month ago

A swimmer like McIntosh has a champion mentality. Why would she purposely slow down? Doesn’t make any sense especially when McIntosh said she’s disappointed with the swim.

Last edited 1 month ago by Greg P
TomDeanBoxall
1 month ago

A quote from another newspaper: McIntosh went out fast, saying that’s “how I swim most races. Now I just have to learn how to hold on in the back half.

I’m quite glad to hear this. One of my fears after that race was that maybe she’ll be tentative next time in the front half (which imo is handing Titmus the win) but this sounds like she’ll keep at the strategy of pushing her front-end.

Greg P
Reply to  TomDeanBoxall
1 month ago

Agreed.

The only way to beat Titmus is to go out really fast and try to hold speed for dear life.

Hillbilly
1 month ago

Can’t wait for her to spank Ledecky!

Emma Eckeon
Reply to  Hillbilly
1 month ago

Show a little more respect for Ledecky. She is a legend! go Katie

Philip Johnson
Reply to  Hillbilly
1 month ago

Weird you mention Ledecky and not the Olympic/World Champion.

Viola Smiles
Reply to  Hillbilly
1 month ago

I agree! The Ledecky reign is over!

Steve Nolan
1 month ago

does anyone know her splits at 200?

Tanner-Garapick-Oleksiak-McIntosh
Reply to  Steve Nolan
1 month ago

1:56.05 200 split
56.03 100 split

Jason
1 month ago

A swimmer of her calibre and with the competition she was up against, she would not have had a full taper. A semi-taper for sure, which is why I think she is disappointed. She would still be in heavy training. It’s a super-fast time though and she will surely be around her PB in Paris. Aussie trials are four weeks away, I’m tipping Arianne for a 3.58 there, and another 3.55 in Paris. I wouldn’t discount Summer, she may well be right with her.

Robbos
Reply to  Jason
1 month ago

Yep, anyone thinking Summer will not go faster than 3.59 in Paris is not thinking. No need to show her cards today.

phelpsfan
Reply to  Robbos
1 month ago

While I do think she’ll go faster in Paris, it is a concerning time if she’ll want to have any chance of catching Titmus for gold.

Viola Smiles
Reply to  Jason
1 month ago

she will go 3.54.90

KeithM
1 month ago

Summer has been a tricky swimmer to predict so far in her young career. She might have one humdrum swim & then turn around & blow the doors off in her next race(s) at the same meet. She has more prep time between trials & Paris than the Australians or Americans. So if she has “disappointing” races in Toronto that are still quite fast then I wouldn’t be too concerned.

Greg P
Reply to  KeithM
1 month ago

Couldn’t agree more!

She’s fine, ignore the polarizing “she’s untapered!” and “she’s doom!”

Greg P
1 month ago

She went out one second under WR pace at 200.

She paid for it at the end.

It’s another lesson that will make her swim better 400.

Dan tm
Reply to  Greg P
1 month ago

She went out faster when she broke the WR in 2023
56.46; 1:55.91; 2:55.84; 3:56.08 WR

Greg P
Reply to  Dan tm
1 month ago

So that’s why Summer is disappointed.

She expected to break the WR or at least be very close.

Notanyswimmer
1 month ago

She’s developing the patented American swimmer piano after all the time spent in the US. Leon Marchand better watch out too!

bob
Reply to  Notanyswimmer
1 month ago

Gee…..I wonder what country you’re from.

Notanyswimmer
Reply to  bob
1 month ago

The USA, duh. I just want America to do better and stop holding itself back with bathtub swimming.

SwimFreak111
Reply to  Notanyswimmer
1 month ago

She trains long course and competes primarily long course so your comment makes no sense.

Laura
Reply to  Notanyswimmer
1 month ago

Can you please explain what you mean?

saltie
Reply to  Notanyswimmer
1 month ago

Ah yes, because the US has historically sucked at swimming, and no good swimmer has ever come from an American swim program.

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