Summer McIntosh is living up to very high expectations at the Olympics.
The Canadian swim sensation captured gold in the women’s 400-metre individual medley on Monday, giving her two medals in as many individual events so far in Paris.
McIntosh led almost wire to wire, finishing more than five seconds ahead of runner-up Katie Grimes of the United States.
The Canadian finished in four minutes, 27.71 seconds, with Grimes touching in 4:33.40. Fellow American Emma Weyant was third in 4:34.93.
“The 400 IM has probably been one of my favourite events since I was 10, 11 years old. I’ve always had such a passion for it,” McIntosh told CBC Olympics.
“So now to be at the 2024 Olympics and get gold in it is super surreal. I mean, I’ve come so far and it makes it very emotional.”
It was Canada’s third medal of the day and fifth overall at the Games. Canada now has two gold medals, one silver and two bronze.
McIntosh won silver in the 400-metre freestyle on the opening day of competition and then helped Canada finish fourth in the 4×100-metre freestyle relay.
The 17-year-old Toronto native was favoured in the 400 IM after setting the world record in the event (4:24.38) earlier this year at the Canadian Olympic trials.
McIntosh won her first Olympic gold on the birthday of her Florida-based coach, Brent Arckey.
“He has truly brought me to an entire new level in all of my strokes … The fact it’s his birthday today is pretty crazy to think about. I’d say there’s a low probably of that. Of course this is one of my birthday presents to him,” McIntosh told CBC Olympics.
McIntosh said it’s special to her that she’s seen as a role model for younger Canadian swimmers now.
“It means the world. Knowing that people are looking up to me for inspiration just gives me an extra boost,” she said.
McIntosh still has two individual events left, along with potentially two more relays.
McIntosh is in her second Olympics after finishing fourth as a 14-year-old in the 400-metre freestyle three years ago in Tokyo.
