Career Timeline of Summer McIntosh: Major Achievements and Milestones

Discover the career path of Summer McIntosh, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.

Summer McIntosh is a highly accomplished Canadian competitive swimmer. She is an Olympic champion, a multiple-time World Aquatics champion, and a Commonwealth Games gold medallist. A versatile swimmer, she excels in medley and butterfly events. McIntosh currently holds world records in the 400m individual medley and 400m freestyle. Furthermore, she holds Olympic and textile records in the 200m butterfly, and the Olympic record in the 200m individual medley. In short course, she is a four-time World Swimming Champion and holds world records in the 400m freestyle, 200m butterfly, and 400m individual medley events.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

1978: Youngest winner since Tracy Caulkins

In 2022, Summer McIntosh became the youngest winner since Tracy Caulkins in 1978.

1982: Youngest Canadian world champion

In 2022, Summer McIntosh became the youngest Canadian world champion in history, surpassing 18-year-old Victor Davis in 1982.

1996: Canadian to win two gold medals

Summer McIntosh became the first Canadian to win two gold medals at a Summer Olympics since sprinter Donovan Bailey in 1996.

2010: Katie Ledecky defeated

In early February 2024, Summer McIntosh defeated Katie Ledecky at a sectional event in Orlando, marking the first time since 2010 that anyone has outpaced Ledecky in the 800 metre distance.

2011: First 15-year-old to win a World title since Ye Shiwen

In 2022, Summer McIntosh became the first 15-year-old to win a World title since China's Ye Shiwen in 2011.

2014: Katie Ledecky's Loss

In 2023, at the Pro Swim Series event in Fort Lauderdale, Summer McIntosh defeated Katie Ledecky in the 200 metre freestyle event. This was the first time Ledecky had lost a domestic final in the 200 metre distance or higher since 2014.

2014: National record broken

In early February 2024, Summer McIntosh's time of 8:11.39 in the 800 metre distance broke a ten-year-old national record previously set by Brittany MacLean at the 2014 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships.

2016: Reference to Katinka Hosszú Record at the 2016 Summer Olympics

At the national swim trials at the end of March, Summer McIntosh won the 400 metre medley with a time of 4:25.87, breaking the world record that Katinka Hosszú had set at the 2016 Summer Olympics.

2016: Reference to Katinka Hosszú's Olympics Time

In March 4, 2022, Summer McIntosh swam the 400 metre individual medley in 4:29.12, the fastest time recorded by any swimmer since Katinka Hosszú's winning time at the 2016 Summer Olympics.

2020: Summer Olympics

In 2020, at age 14, Summer McIntosh was the youngest member of the Canadian team for the Summer Olympics, achieving a fourth-place finish in the 400 metre freestyle.

2020: Qualification for the Summer Olympics in Tokyo

In 2021, Summer McIntosh qualified for the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo after winning the 200 metre freestyle and 800 metre freestyle event at the Canadian Olympic Swimming Trials.

May 2021: Fastest time by a 14-year-old swimmer

In May 2021, Summer McIntosh swam the 400 metre freestyle in 4:05.13, the fastest time ever by a 14-year-old swimmer worldwide.

2021: World Short Course Championships

In 2021, Summer McIntosh was part of the Canadian team for the World Short Course Championships, where she won a silver medal in the 4x100 metre medley relay, a gold medal in the 4x200 metre freestyle relay, and a silver medal in the 400 metre freestyle race. She also set a Canadian record in the 800 metre qualifying.

2021: Canadian Olympic Swimming Trials

In 2021, at the Canadian Olympic swimming trials in Toronto, Summer McIntosh won the 200 metre freestyle and the 800 metre freestyle event, achieving personal best times. Her 200 metre freestyle time was also the fastest time ever by a 14-year-old swimmer worldwide.

2021: First appearance

In 2024, It was announced that Summer McIntosh would compete at the World Swimming Championships, her first appearance there since 2021.

March 4, 2022: National and Commonwealth Record

On March 4, 2022, Summer McIntosh swam the 400 metre individual medley in 4:29.12 at a preparatory event for the Canadian swimming trials, setting a national and Commonwealth record, and the third-fastest time of all time.

2022: Commonwealth Games

After the 2022 Commonwealth Games, Summer McIntosh appeared in the 200 metre medley at an international competition.

2022: FINA World Aquatics Championships Debut

In 2022, Summer McIntosh debuted at the FINA World Aquatics Championships in Budapest, winning a silver medal in the 400 metre freestyle, a gold medal in the 200 metre butterfly, and a bronze medal in the 4 × 200 metre freestyle relay. She also won a gold medal in the 400 metre individual medley, becoming the first Canadian swimmer to win two gold medals at a single World Championships.

2022: FINA Swimming World Cup

In 2022, at the FINA Swimming World Cup in Toronto, Summer McIntosh set a new world junior record in the 400 metre freestyle, won the gold medal in the 400 metre individual medley, and won a pair of bronze medals in the 200 metre backstroke and the 200 metre individual medley.

2022: U.S. Open Swimming Championships

In 2022, at the U.S. Open Swimming Championships, Summer McIntosh won the gold medal in the 400 metre individual medley and the silver medal in the 200 metre backstroke, also winning the silver medal in the 400 metre freestyle earlier in the meet.

April 2023: First and Second World Records

In April 2023, Summer McIntosh set her first and second world records in the 400 metre freestyle and 400 individual medley events at the Canadian national trials.

July 27, 2023: Second Canadian to win three World titles

On July 27, 2023, Summer McIntosh successfully defended her title in the 200 m butterfly. She became only the second Canadian to win three World titles, after Kylie Masse, as well as the second to defend a World title, again after Masse.

2023: U.S. Open Swimming Championships

In 2023, at the U.S. Open Swimming Championships, Summer McIntosh won the gold medal in the 400 m freestyle and defended her gold medal in the 400 m individual medley.

2023: World Aquatics Championships

In 2023, at the World Aquatics Championships, Summer McIntosh finished fourth in the 400 metre freestyle, won a bronze medal in the 200 m freestyle, defended her title in the 200 m butterfly, and defended her title in the 400 m medley. She also won a bronze medal in the 4x100 m medley relay.

2023: Pro Swim Series

In early 2023, at the Pro Swim Series event in Fort Lauderdale, Summer McIntosh lowered her national and world junior records in the 200 metre butterfly and the 200 metre freestyle, winning the latter event over Katie Ledecky. She also broke Sydney Pickrem's national record in the 200 metre individual medley.

May 16, 2024: World Record in 400m IM

As of May 16, 2024, Summer McIntosh holds the world record in the women's long course 400m IM.

2024: Summer Olympics Success

At the 2024 Summer Olympics, Summer McIntosh won four individual medals, comprising three gold and one silver, significantly enhancing her fame.

2024: World Swimming Championships

In 2024, Summer McIntosh competed at the World Swimming Championships, winning multiple gold and silver medals and setting world records. She was also voted the recipient of the Northern Star Award as Canada's top athlete for 2024 and named female swimmer of the year by World Aquatics.

2024: Defeated Katie Ledecky

In early February 2024, Summer McIntosh defeated Katie Ledecky at a sectional event in Orlando, becoming the first person to outpace Ledecky in the 800 metre distance since 2010. She also opted not to attend the 2024 World Aquatics Championships in Doha.

2025: Adding a fifth individual event

Towards the end of February, Summer McIntosh stated she would be looking to add a fifth individual event to her program for the 2025 World Aquatics Championships.