2026 Bell Canadian Swimming Trials
- July 5-9, 2026
- Montreal, Canada — Montreal Olympic Pool
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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.
2:01 is truly mind boggling every time I think about it
After this performance where do we rank her among women all time? You’d gotta think top 5
In the modern era I think only Ledecky and maybe Sjostrom and Mckeown are ahead but that’s mainly for longevity reasons for the last two. But she’ll be top 2 all time if she continues to be great through 2028
I KNEW SHE COULD DO IT!!! It was just a matter of when. I’m so happy for her. And as a swim fan there’s nothing more satisfying than a super suited record being broken. Congratulations Summer
Summer McIntosh is breathing on Ledecky’s neck to take her crown as the greatest female swimmer of all time
Yeah, no.
An argument as old as time. KL greatest women’s freestyler of all time? I think a curt dismissal of Summer as goat is a misstep. She’s 100% in the conversation if not already there.
If she keeps this up for 10 years, sure
moreso as the stroke goat. Ledecky may have more overall medals I think.
She’s on that track, I think this conversation should be had after LA tho
Summer is the first, and only, swimmer on the women’s side who feels like she could be the Lebron to Ledecky’s Jordan. The fact that in 4-8 years there could be a legitimate GOAT debate is a testament to her generational talent.
It won’t require anywhere near 8 years. That’s not the way recency bias works. Heck, look at this thread itself for verification. There are comments mocking the notion that Douglass was ever considered as most versatile above McIntosh.
A key variable in McIntosh’s favor would be if she broke the 800 world record. But that seemed a lot more likely a year ago than right now. Not only is she not prioritizing the event but McIntosh turns 20 next month. Ledecky last year in Ft. Lauderdale is the only woman aged 20+ to break the 800 world record in the past 70+ years.
BRAVO!!!
Is there a link to a replay of the swim anywhere yet?
Ya I love how great swim canada is on broadcasting a sport (insert sarcasm face here) that is struggling with retention and exposure. Whoever thought doing a pay per view style was the right choice should be removed from their job. I guess something never change.
yada yada “pay the athletes more!!!!” something something “but make it all free!!!” blah blah “pay them more with someone else’s money!!!”
Some of y’all have to make up your minds about what you want out of this sport.
If you think swimmers are going to be paid more but it won’t ultimately be your money paying them (passed through many hands), I have bad news for you.
https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/video/9.7259413
yes, cbc webpage, also the post-swim interview
I cried
Summer cried. First time I saw that emotion from her after a race. The opposite of her reaction to the 200 fly at Worlds last year. I think it’s great to see her showing emotions!
Yeah, I cried with her.