A Historic Swim in Montreal
The swimming world witnessed history on Sunday evening as Canada’s Summer McIntosh dismantled what was previously the oldest individual world record in women’s swimming. During the Canadian trials held in Montreal, McIntosh clocked an impressive time of 2:01.65 in the 200-meter butterfly.
Reflecting on the Achievement
Describing her performance, McIntosh noted that her confidence was immediate upon entering the water.
«To be honest, as soon as I dove in I felt absolutely incredible. The crowd just got my adrenaline going. I went out pretty fast and I think I just held on very well. It was done very well and it's a great way to start off trials.»
Overcoming the 'Super-Suit' Era Record
The previous benchmark had stood for nearly 15 years, set by China’s Liu Zige at the 2009 National Games with a time of 2:01.81. Liu’s record was achieved during a controversial period in the sport, shortly before the international governing body implemented a ban on high-tech polyurethane swimsuits. For years, this specific record was considered one of the most difficult to surpass.
McIntosh had been inching closer to the historical mark for some time, coming within just 0.18 seconds of the record during the world championships held in 2025.
A Growing Legacy
Discussing the magnitude of the accomplishment, McIntosh remarked:
«This is probably, in my opinion, one of the hardest world records in the books, on the women's side at least. That's always been a really big goal of mine… To now break it, it's just very surreal.»
This performance cements McIntosh's status as a dominant force in modern swimming. She currently holds four individual long-course world records, including:
- 200-meter butterfly
- 200-meter individual medley
- 400-meter individual medley
- 400-meter freestyle
These achievements follow her breakout performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where she secured three gold medals, including a victory in the 200-meter butterfly event.