Canadian swimmer Summer McIntosh is eagerly anticipating the return of Australia’s Ariarne Titmus to peak form, reflecting her passionate desire for competition. At just 18 years old, McIntosh is currently focused on navigating the presence of American superstar Katie Ledecky, who is often celebrated as the greatest female swimmer in history.
As the swimming world championships kick off in Singapore, the women’s 800-metre freestyle event is poised to draw significant attention. McIntosh’s schedule includes the 400m freestyle, 800m freestyle, 200m butterfly, and both the 200m and 400m individual medleys, making her ambitions clear: she aims to become only the second swimmer ever to secure five individual gold medals at a single long-course world championships, a feat previously accomplished by Michael Phelps.
Next Saturday will see McIntosh compete against Ledecky in the 800m freestyle final, a highly anticipated showdown. McIntosh acknowledged the challenge posed by Ledecky, stating, “In my opinion the biggest challenge is of course Katie,” and expressed excitement for their competitive meeting.
Remarkably, McIntosh is the only female swimmer to have defeated Ledecky in the 800m final since 2010, and she recently came close to breaking Ledecky’s world record, clocking a time of 8:05.07 at the Canadian trials. Ledecky, who has dominated the Olympic 800m titles, is looking to secure her seventh world championship gold in this event.
Alongside the 800m, McIntosh will also face Ledecky in the 400m freestyle. Reflecting on her experiences racing Ledecky, McIntosh remarked, “Any time I get to race Katie is a learning experience… I think we bring the best out of each other.”
McIntosh’s aspirations extend beyond just winning. She aims to entertain and inspire, saying, “I have expectations and goals to gather as many golds as possible… The goal is to always win for me and reach my full potential.”
Following a remarkable performance at the Canadian trials, where she broke multiple world records, McIntosh established herself as a formidable competitor. She eclipsed Titmus’s previous 400m record with a time of 3:54.18, prompting a spirited response from Titmus, who acknowledged the competitive fire it ignited within her.
McIntosh praised Titmus as an “absolute phenomenon” and expressed confidence that her rival would soon return to form. “Seeing others swim fast motivates you… She is a tough competitor who brings out the best in me,” McIntosh affirmed.
As the championships approach, McIntosh stands as a symbol of youth and ambition in the world of swimming, ready to embark on a thrilling journey amid fierce competition.