2026 Bell Canadian Swimming Trials
- July 5-9, 2026
- Montreal, Canada — Montreal Olympic Pool
- LCM (50 Meters)
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Originally published on July 5, 2026.
Women’s 200m Butterfly – Finals
World Record: 2:01.81 – Liu Zige, China (2009)Canadian Record: 2:01.99 – Summer McIntosh (2025)- World Aquatics ‘A’ Standard: 2:09.21
- Summer McIntosh – 2:01.65 *NEW WORLD RECORD/CANADIAN RECORD
- Mary-Sophie Harvey – 2:10.58
- Claire Watson – 2:12.58
In a performance that shook the swimming world, Summer McIntosh shattered the world record in the women’s 200-meter fly with a blazing time of 2:01.65 on night one of the 2026 Canadian Swimming Trials in Montreal.
The oldest world record in women’s swimming at almost 17 years old, the 200 fly world record was the last remaining record from the super-suit era on the women’s side and just a few years ago seemed unbreakable.
McIntosh shaved .16 off of the previous world record time of 2:01.81, set by China’s Liu Zige back in 2009. McIntosh’s performance also broke her own Canadian record in the event, as she took .34 off of her lifetime best from the 2025 World Championships.
McIntosh dominated right from the start in Montreal, blasting ahead of the field to gain almost a body length’s lead by the 50-meter mark; she turned in 27.45 at the 50, over a second ahead of runner-up Mary-Sophie Harvey. McIntosh continued to extend her lead throughout the race, eventually getting her hands on the wall almost nine seconds ahead of Harvey.
Despite trailing Zige’s world record pace by nearly two-tenths at the halfway point, McIntosh pulled off a faster backhalf than the former record holder, chasing down the world record line and surpassing it to set a new standard.
Split Comparison
| Zige – Old World Record | McIntosh – Old Personal Best | McIntosh – New World Record | |
| 50 | 27.19 | 27.22 | 27.45 |
| 100 | 58.08 (30.89) | 58.41 (31.19) | 58.21 (30.76) |
| 150 | 1:30.20 (32.12) | 1:30.00 (31.59) | 1:29.73 (31.52) |
| 200 | 2:01.81 (31.61) | 2:01.99 (31.99) | 2:01.65 (31.92) |
McIntosh swam this race the only way she could – she needed to attack the third 50 and hold on for dear life against the World Record line in the closing. The polyurethane suits like the one Zige wore to set her World Record were theorized to give swimmers a big closing advantage, and that showed up in Zige’s swim.
In addition to breaking the world record and Canadian record in the event, McIntosh’s time also set a new Commonwealth record and Americas record in the 200 fly.
McIntosh now owns four LCM world records; the 19-year-old already held the title of fastest ever performer in the women’s 400 free, 200 IM and 400 IM. The 200 fly world record is perhaps the most infamous of them all, with her performance in the event further cementing her place in swimming history.
In a post race interview BobBowman told the CBC interviewer that the plan was to go after the 200fly record at CDN trials. The interviewer then asked Bob if they had a plan for PanPacs, to which he confirmed, but wouldn’t say what the plan is!
So, is it the 200 free or 800 free. I think she has a better shot at the 800 free in LA. Summer won’t win next month, but could take the WR at CDN Trials in 2028
She was sick and out a little fast compared to her 57 in the 100. Expect Summer to break 2:00 someday. Congratulations to Summer and to her coaches!
Wait but ESPN told me summer broke the 100 fly WR in 2:01.65…when did sitting on the wall for a minute and a half become a new swimming event?
If we ignore the supersuit record, Is Summers 200 fly record the most dominant? Or maybe Ledecky 1500 or the 100 fly? What’s the number?
If you mean by % difference from 1st to second then it’s the 100 fly
The most dominant ever as compared to the next best time ever is Gretchen Walsh in the 100 fly.
i cant imagine being able to hold 31’s in this event. i imagine the typical elite female 200 flyer is dropping off at least a second or two on their last 50 compared to their third.
Bye bye Yu Zidi
Why is everyone taking the opportunity to take shots at Ledecky and Yu? Smh.
Bro I love summer and I’m not convinced yu zidi will ever get this fast, but Yu’s 200 fly time is not far off Summer’s 200 free at the same age
Yu Zidi isn’t going anywhere!
Yu is just starting, on her way up to beat Summer.
yeah, on her way to flop, just like the other Chinese swimmers, flash in the pan.
Y’all Zidi will be dominant in literally like the 2036 Games lmfao not right now. like what.
She’s not going anywhere and just did 4:30 in 400 IM last month
being both a Summer fan and a Gretchen fan-
I wonder how a 150 Fly race between the two would go
my guess LCM Summer catches Gretchen with 20 meters to go
SCM Gretchen just holds on to win
don’t have much to go on for Gretchen in an event longer than 1 minute,
but she did once go 1:39.3 to lead off a 4×200 UVA free relay
Regan for the win in 150
I doubt Gretchen could stay strong the last 25m. Yes she was able to hold in in the 200 Free/200 Back in SCY but LCM fly is a different event.
I agree that Regan seemingly would have a better shot.
assuming a simple exponential decay model where T2/T1= (D2/D1)^k, you get k=1.155 for Regan and 1.094 for Summer plugging in their actual 100/200 personal bests (and 1.152 for Milak, very close to Regan).
With this model and their K values, it’s 1:28.87 for Regan and 1:28.84 for Summer for their predicted 150 fly times. Gretchen doesn’t have a 200 fly time but if you eyeball a 1.25 k value for her, it’s like a 1:30 flat 150 fly.
If you estimate a 56.5 actual 100 fly time for Summer, it’s instead k=1.107 and 150 fly time of 1:28.53
I’ll go out on a limb and predict Gretchen in the 150… I think she could float a 57 high going out and from there it doesn’t take much.
Unfortunately for you guys the 150 doesn’t exist.
doesn’t existing…yet.
Jeff you’re truly an MVP commenter (MVC?), never stop posting the math analyses
Hilarious game but I’ll play. Gretchen would die after the first 100…badly.
Summer could beat Gretchen in 100 fly if she chooses to lol
Not even a good troll cmon dude
No she won’t cause she’s not a sprinter and I can’t remember the last time she beat someone in any 100s event
Hilarious how you guys rationalize. The 150 isn’t an event.
Yes it is
well duh, summer obviously loses the 100 and wins the 200. The hypothetical 150 is the only interesting competition
Yet. It doesn’t exist, yet.
Amazing swim and record for Summer. She’s a superstar.
And to be honest, everyone that swims 200 Fly or 400IM at all deserves a shoutout, too…