Summer McIntosh Sets Another World Junior Record with 1:54.13 200 Free

2023 PRO SWIM SERIES – FORT LAUDERDALE

FRIDAY FINALS HEAT SHEETS

Summer McIntosh continued her success into day 3 of Pro Swim setting another World Junior Record at the meet with a 1:54.13 200 freestyle.

McIntosh breaks her own record as the record previously stood at a 1:54.79 which she swam to lead off the Canadian relay last summer at the 2022 World Championships in Hungary.

Split Comparisons:

2023 PSS
2022 World Champs
50 27.13 27.32
100 56.08 (28.95) 56.22 (28.90)
150 1:25.15 (29.07) 1:25.59 (29.37)
200 1:54.13 (28.98) 1:54.79 (29.20)

The biggest difference here was that McIntosh was stronger on the back-half of her race, coming home very strong in a sub-29 split on the last 50 with a 28.98.

In addition to setting a new World Junior Record, McIntosh’s swim tonight also broke the US Open Record and Canadian record. The previous US Open record was held by Allison Schmitt and Katie Ledecky. Schmitt swam a 1:54.40 at 2012 Olympic Trials and Ledecky swam the same time at the Pro Swim Series in Mission Viejo in 2021. Meanwhile, the previous Canadian record was held by Taylor Ruck, who swam a 1:54.44 at the 2018 Pan Pac Championships.

This was McIntosh’s second World Junior Record of the meet so far as she also broke her own previous record in the 200 butterfly.

WOMEN’S 200 FREESTYLE – FINAL

Top 8:

  1. Summer McIntosh – 1:54.13 (World Junior Record, U.S. Open Record)
  2. Katie Ledecky – 1:54.96
  3. Siobhan Haughey – 1:55.53
  4. Regan Smith – 1:58.14
  5. Bella Sims – 1:58.24
  6. Ella Jansen – 1:58.30
  7. Leah Smith – 1:58.41
  8. Claire Weinstein – 1:59.12

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The unoriginal Tim
1 year ago

Most exciting swimmer in the world right now.

Stephanie
Reply to  The unoriginal Tim
1 year ago

By far!

Mike McCormack
Reply to  The unoriginal Tim
1 year ago

Along with: most beautiful stroke; most even temperament; most unlikely champion ever to pump a fist or jump up on a lane rope (tie with Regan Smith); most exciting to watch and root for… the superlatives seem endless. She turned jaded Katie into a fan! Also, if you notice, SM always turns her back to her strongest opponent before the call to the blocks. Yesterday… she did not. She paid her humble homage in the 2 free, and faced Katie. The mutual admirers’ club. Wonderful to witness! Long live the sport of Kahanamoku, Weissmuller and Kiefer.

gitech
1 year ago

The only clear events that she will never stop doing are: 400 FREE and 400 IM. Then I suppose that he will opt for 200 fly or 200 im, the 200 free cuts his schedule, I only think he will do it in relays.

Tracy Kosinski
1 year ago

Way to rock it, SM!!

What will her first WR be in? 2fly, 2fr or 4IM?

Even the GOAT seems impressed 🙂

jeff
Reply to  Tracy Kosinski
1 year ago

def the 4IM imo

M.T.
1 year ago

Her turns seem to have improved. Much more power popping off the walls than before.

commonwombat
1 year ago

Decisions !! Decisions !! Don’t envy having to make the call(s) regarding her racing program. LOL

Jimmyswim
Reply to  commonwombat
1 year ago

200 free, 400 free, 200 fly, 200IM and 400IM all gold potential. Also medal potential in 800 free but since she’s not a shot for gold that’s probably out.

The 200 free final and 400IM final conflict, and 400IM is her strongest event IMO, so if I was her I’d still be dropping the 200 free.

commonwombat
Reply to  Jimmyswim
1 year ago

Largely agree. 800 is almost certainly out. 400IM v 200FR certainly tilts strongly in favour of 400IM; the 2 matters that may change that are likely to be:

  • what time she puts down at CAN Trials and/or any other 200FR outings before it
  • the times out of other countries Trials (particularly AUS/USA) and where she then sits in the hierarchy of the event

Certainly has some major potential to boost CAN W4X200 with her now looking a potential “game changer”/monster hitter.

Jimmyswim
Reply to  commonwombat
1 year ago

The 400IM is the first event in the final and 200 free is the last event, so she could conceivably do both if she wanted to swim 5 individual events. Assuming that she only wants to swim 4, 200 free is the obvious drop. However, you’re right about competition. If the 200 fly or 200IM have massive international improvements to the point where she’s out of the gold conversation then she may choose to drop one of those (but that seems unlikely).

Re the 200 relay, she will be a massive boon to Canada. I still don’t see them in the gold conversation without significant improvement from all 4 legs and/or significant decline by USA/AUS/CHN. Even a 1:53 low split… Read more »

Troyy
Reply to  Jimmyswim
1 year ago

I know you’re talking about the Olympics but this year at worlds the 200 free does overlap with the 200 fly but it seems doable given the 200 fly semi comes second. Much more doable than the 200 IM on day one which produces a 400 free/200 IM/4×100 free triple in just over an hour.

Last edited 1 year ago by Troyy
KeithM
Reply to  Troyy
1 year ago

It would be good to challenge herself this year to see how she does with difficult doubles. She could be far enough ahead in certain events by next year to impact some of her decisions.

Last edited 1 year ago by KeithM
commonwombat
Reply to  KeithM
1 year ago

True to some extent. She is only likely to be co-opted for freestyle relays rather than also having either/both medley relays as part of the equation.

However, its probably wiser not to go overboard with doubles and 3 swims in a session is probably “pushing the envelope” to the utmost when we’re talking major championships as against smaller meets.

Last edited 1 year ago by commonwombat
Mike McCormack
Reply to  KeithM
1 year ago

Yes, like Regan just did, to amazing effect. I think aging helps the navigating of fast-turnaround doubles. There’s another problem in that for Summer, besides youth (or possibly): She is carrying so little weight! Looks like maybe 110, all lats. I’ve jokingly, admiringly called her, ‘The 100-Pound Locomotive’, but she isn’t far above the century mark today. I really was looking forward to seeing her pit herself against Regan in the 2 back in a quick double, was disappointed not to get that look. Good God what a swimmer! 3 WJR repeat of the Budapest WCs!!!!!

commonwombat
Reply to  Troyy
1 year ago

200IM is probably the event where she’s is currently ‘seeded lowest’. Whilst McKeown’s participation is open to speculation; whichever Americans she comes up against are going to be formidable. Unless she takes hold of the event and asserts some clear dominance this year, I would suspect it may be shelved for Paris given she’s currently better placed for 400FR & its a near lock that she will be called up for 4X100.

As for this year’s clash, its probably manageable given the relative weakness of the W200fly field where she’s unlikely to need significant expenditure in either heats or semis.

To answer Jimmy re W4X200; whilst I can agree that this doesn’t yet lift CAN onto the same level as… Read more »

"we've got a boilover!"
Reply to  commonwombat
1 year ago

Every time she swims this event and makes continued progress, it pushes Canada further into the 🥇 conversation. All true 🇨🇦 does not have the depth. We’ll need a 154 Penny, a close to 2018 Taylor (even 155), a 4th with 155 potential (Rebecca hit it once 2021 prelims, can’t seem to count out ageless Katrine, also another youngster Ella). Then as others have mentioned whatever out worldly effort from Summer to counter Ledecky/ Titmus… Possible!

Robbos
Reply to  "we've got a boilover!"
1 year ago

Don’t forget MOC, she is also improving with every swim & is only 18 years old, only 2 years older also swimming similar times as Mcintosh, so that Australia has Titmus & MOC.

"we've got a boilover!"
Reply to  Robbos
1 year ago

That is true. If they’re both bring 153s or better on the day then there’s no one touching them.

NUSwimFan
Reply to  commonwombat
1 year ago

I think her schedule might look something like

Day 1: 400 Fr, 4×100 Fr
Day 2: Off
Day 3: 200 Fr
Day 4: 200 Fr (F), 200 Fly
Day 5: 200 Fly (F), 4×200 Fr
Day 6: Off
Day 7: Off
Day 8: 400 IM

Day 4 and 5 both suck. I can feel the lactic acid build up just thinking about a 2Fr/2Fly double 2 nights in a row.

Day 6/7, she could do the 800 Fr but she seems to be less swayed by distance events. Maybe a dark horse is the 200 bk? A 2:07.1 at the Us Open a few months ago… could we see a 2:05… Read more »

commonwombat
Reply to  NUSwimFan
1 year ago

On Day 4, she will probably only need to go all out for the 200free final as the 200fly is a much weaker field. Day 5 ……. regardless of any medals she may win that night, on Day 6 one can probably guarantee she’ll be asking herself “who talked me into that ??”.

200 back…… she’d realistically need to be down to 2.05 mid minimum to be in the medal picture given Smith’s time and we have yet to see any shots fired from McKeown. Would face some competition domestically from Masse and Wilm although it may be the case that Masse is now concentrating on the shorter races.

jeff
Reply to  NUSwimFan
1 year ago

given that she’ll probably be within striking range of the 400 IM WR by this summer, I think it’d be best for her to take days 6 and 7 to rest. 200 back is really rough right now too anyway especially if Smith is getting close to 2019 form again since even a 2:05 very well could miss a medal

North Sea
Reply to  NUSwimFan
1 year ago

I was really looking forward to her swimming the 200m backstroke at this meet. I think she has a lot of potential in this event. Unfortunately, she scratched.

Robbos
Reply to  commonwombat
1 year ago

Well this comment didn’t last long;
‘200IM is probably the event where she’s is currently ‘seeded lowest.’

SAMUEL HUNTINGTON
1 year ago

PSS record as well?

Rob Davis
1 year ago

Mighty fine swim!!! Congratulations Summer!

Yozhik
1 year ago

Time flies. It seems not that long ago Missy Franklin became the forth fastest ever performer in 200FR with 1:54.81. And young Katie Ledecky became world champion with 1:55.15. And now Summer McIntosh swims 1:54.13 and reactions is “nice junior record”.

About Anya Pelshaw

Anya Pelshaw

Anya has been with SwimSwam since June 2021 as both a writer and social media coordinator. She was in attendance at the 2022 and 2023 Women's NCAA Championships writing and doing social media for SwimSwam. Currently, Anya is pursuing her B.A. in Economics and a minor in Government & Law at …

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