Unflappable Canadian Teen Summer McIntosh Has 2 Olympic Swimming Medals And Chances For More

Nanterre, France – Summer McIntosh and her classmates at her elementary school in Ontario used to rehearse singing the Canadian national anthem in both English and French.

They would divide it into thirds.

So, as she came onto the medal platform at the Paris Olympics on Monday night after winning the 400-meter individual medley and “Oh Canada” began to play, the beaming girl sang in English first, then French, and finally English.

McIntosh | AP News Image

Unflappable Canadian Teen Summer McIntosh Has 2 Olympic Swimming Medals And Chances For More

“I still remember growing up every single day standing up at the beginning of class singing ‘Oh Canada,'” she lovingly reminisced about her schoolgirl years. “So now being able to do it at the Olympic Games, it’s pretty surreal.”

McIntosh was an Olympian at fourteen.
Monday night marked a watershed moment for one of the world’s brightest young swimmers. At only 17, McIntosh appears unmoved and calm, and she says that her extraordinary serenity stems largely from the fact that “I have been doing this since I was 14.”

She made her Olympic debut during the postponed Tokyo Games. McIntosh did not medal there but won silver and gold a few years later in France.

McIntosh receives valuable experience every time she leaves the blocks and dives in, and she remembers herself to enjoy the unforgettable moments.

“I still feel like I’m just my 10-year-old self,” she added, “and I’m just trying to consolidate all those childhood aspirations. And I intend to continue participating in this sport as long as I am able.”

McIntosh touched in 4 minutes, 27.71 seconds, overwhelming the race to win her maiden gold medal in the 400 IM after finishing second in the 400 freestyle on Day 1 at La Defence Arena. It wasn’t until the breaststroke leg that she realized she was well ahead of the field and had earned the Olympic title.

McIntosh is from an Olympic family.
When McIntosh spotted her family on a victory lap, she paused for a long group embrace. Her mother, Jill Horstead, was a Canadian swimmer who competed in the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.

“They were saying how proud they are of me of course, but I know no matter what my result was going into the final tonight they would have been proud of me no matter what,” McIntosh told the audience. “But just being able to give them a big group hug, it was very amazing.”

McIntosh | AP news Image

What are the next events for Summer McIntosh?

McIntosh made news in February for her 800 freestyle victory over decorated American Katie Ledecky at a meet in Orlando, Florida, posting a Canadian record 8:11.39. McIntosh subsequently established a world record in the 400 IM at 4:24.38 in her hometown of Toronto two months earlier.

She tries not to put too much strain on herself.

“It’s always just about having fun along with pushing my body to its limits,” she told me. “So there is definitely a lot of expectation before a race, but I wouldn’t say there are anxieties or no respite. I’m just trying to soak up every moment of the Games.”

With the Canadian flag wrapped around her shoulders and a shining medal around her neck, McIntosh attempted to achieve just that.

“I just kept thinking to myself to try and savour the moment as much as possible because obviously these moments only come around every four years,” she told me. “Just try to make Team Canada proud and kind of set the tone for the rest of the night.”

McIntosh will have numerous opportunities to shine — and sing — with Canada and the rest of the world watching. She will compete in the 200 butterfly, which she won at the world championships in 2022 and 2023, and the 200 IM.

McIntosh’s teammates and competitors expect great things.
McIntosh’s 28-year-old colleague Kylie Masse relished the opportunity to see her race.

“It’s incredible to see, to have an Olympic medal and to have the success that she’s had already is incredibly amazing,” Masse told reporters. “And having been in the sport for a number of years, I understand the importance and significance of this. And to witness her maintain such composure and poise while continuing to achieve great things is simply an honour.”

That is the plan for McIntosh.

“Every single time I get to race on the world stage, I learn more and more about handling mentally and physically and emotionally and trying not to get too high or too low depending on my race results,” she told me.

McIntosh is shaping the next generation of swimmers.
Masse can already see the next generation of Canadian swimmers rising through the ranks, encouraged by McIntosh’s success, who trains in Sarasota, Florida.

McIntosh | AP News Image

Unflappable Canadian Teen Summer McIntosh Has 2 Olympic Swimming Medals And Chances For More

The Americans can also detect McIntosh’s influence, with Emma Weyant remarking that McIntosh trains with her former Florida club squad and “continues to do impressive things.”

“She means the world,” Masse remarked. “She inspires everyone, including many young swimmers in Canada. Seeing her and her achievement on the international stage reassures them that they can dream big and achieve everything they set their minds to.

SOURCE | AP