Today on the GMM Podcast we have swimming superstar Summer McIntosh. She talked a little over an hour and nothing was off-limits. Before we hit record, she said, “Go for it. I’m ready to discuss anything.”
We caught up during her three-week altitude block at the U.S. Olympic Training Center, where she’s working under new coach, Bob Bowman. And, of course, she recently announced her global partnership with Arena. (see link below).
This podcast is loaded. Summer provides insight and backstory across a lot of topics. She certainly breaks through the noise of the internet, allowing us us peek into the mind of the most dominant female swimmer on the planet in her run-up to LA2028.
We cover a lot of topics. Here are a few:
- Breaking down her world records — which one meant the most and why.
- Her favorite race from the 2025 World Championships — the one where everything clicked.
- The 800 free drama — Summer finished 3rd behind Katie Ledecky (8:05.62) and Lani Pallister (8:07.29). The internet erupted when fans thought she didn’t shake Ledecky’s hand. She did — and she sets the record straight.
- Barely missing the 200 fly world record — and what that near-miss taught her about the next level.
- What’s next in 2026 — Pan Pacs, Commonwealth Games… or both?
- The business side of being Summer McIntosh — life, fame, sponsorships, and staying grounded post-Paris.
- Training in Austin under Bowman, sharing lanes with Regan Smith, and how that chemistry is shaping her next phase.
- The illness that forced her out of the World Cup — and the aftermath. There a lot more to this story!
A different Summer showed up this year. She’s older, mature, and ready to provide us a unique look at what it takes to keep climbing when you’re already on top. And, I think she’s just getting started. She’s only 19, and I see this relationship with her fans growing more intimate as we near LA and the 2028 Summer Olympic Games.
UPDATE: I told Summer in the podcast that I would include her mom’s career notes. See them here:
Summer’s Mom – Jill Horstead
- 1983 Pan American Games (Age 16): 200m Fly, 4th, 2:17.13
- 1984 Summer Olympics – Los Angeles: 200m Fly, 9th (1st in B Final), 2:13.49
- 1985 Pan Pacific Championships: 200m Fy, Bronze, 2:13.46
- 1986 Commonwealth Games: 200m Fly, Bronze, 2:14.53
- And she swam at the University of Florida under Randy Reese. She was an All-American in 200 fly and 400 IM.
INTERVIEW CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS:
- 0:00 Summer McIntosh Introduction
- 2:00 Signing with Arena
- 4:25 Untapered rumor for Canadian Trials?
- 7:13 800 Free in Singapore – The Ledaecky Handshake
- 14:08 200 Fly
- 20:35 Event Schedule Going Forward
- 23:54 Training with Bowman in Austin
- 27:30 Sponsorships – The Biz Of Swimming
- 29:39 Canadian Relays
- 32:56 Goal Times
- 33:34 World Cup Sickness
- 36:23 OTC Training Trip
- 40:50 Competitions Next Summer – Pan Pac or Commonwealth or both?
- 41:18 Ariarne Titmus Retiring
- 43:43 Leaving Sarasota
- 46:15 Training with Fred Vergnoux
- 49:10 Quality Workouts
Follow Summer McIntosh on Instagram here.
Follow Gold Medal Mel on Instagram here.
Many thanks to Swimoutlet.com for their 13 year partnership and support of this swimming news and media.
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This is a Gold Medal Media production presented by SwimOutlet.com. Host Gold Medal Mel Stewart is a 3-time Olympic medalist and the co-founder of SwimSwam.com, a Swimming News website.
Opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the interviewed guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs, and viewpoints of the hosts, SwimSwam Partners, LLC and/or SwimSwam advertising partners.
She is a soft swimmer. Wont do the Com Games and Pan Pacs.
You’re a soft commenter
I can’t believe I spent 15 minutes reading the comments and I haven’t clicked on the video yet. What’s wrong with people?!
Summer owns even the comments’ section
Excellent interview Mel..!!
rylee erisman just had florida state champs and beat walshes national hs record in the 100 free
@Gold Medal Mel Stewart, what do you mean “by a lot of people don’t know about that record” and “there is a lot of history behind that record”?
Liu Zige is an Olympic champion (2008) and world champion (2013) in the 200 fly.
She went 2:04 low in textile and got around 2 seconds benefit from the supersuit, which others like Jess Schipper did as well.
Not to mention swimmers like Phelps and others, who went insane times with the supersuit and never approached them again.
If you’re trying to make another point, then you need to provide evidence, which there isn’t.
Maybe addressing the rumors? Idk I agree with him tho not u
Your comment is 100% fair, which is why I voiced my opinion and did not lean into certainty. It was and is an insanely fast time… I also hold the opinion (however unpopular) that Sun Yang may have been unfairly and unjustly treated. To be clear, I question whether or not we know the full and true story behind Sun Yang’s whole ordeal.
I mean I wouldn’t go so far as to say phelps never sniffed his rubber suit times- I would say he sniffed em all in textile at some point or another
Do we already know what she’s swimming at the US Open? Sorry if it was mentioned and I missed it..
She said she wants to swim the 2-free, so the 4×200 could be an reality in LA.
If Summer can go 1:52 and MSH can go 1:54, what would the other 2 women need to go for that relay to have podium potential?
It’s basically a 4 horse race between AUS, USA, CHN and CAN. Will depend on how the other 3 are. But a 1:52, 1:54, 1:55 and 1:56 should definitely be enough for a medal I would guess
Canada can definitely win a medal but realistically the fight for the win is probably between Australia ,US and maybe China
Australia and the United States are undoubtedly the strongest, followed by China, which is currently quite close.
Mel, thanks so much for doing this interview. It was so well done!♡
So proud of Summer. She is such a wonderful ambassador for the sport
and such an inspiration.