VICTORIA – Summer McIntosh is still processing what she has accomplished.
McIntosh capped a historic five-day streak at the Bell Canadian Swimming Trials by breaking her own world record in the 400-metre individual medley Wednesday. She finished in 4:23.65, shaving .73 off the time she swam at last year’s Olympic trials.
It was the third world record for the 18-year-old from Toronto who set two other Canadian records for a total of five – one per day.
“During the meet I don’t really like to think about it,” said McIntosh, who received a huge hug from three-time Olympian Penny Oleksiak after climbing out of the pool. “I’ll celebrate and then kind of process it and focus on the next race.
“I know I can go faster. “ McIntosh won the 200 IM Monday in 2:05.70, lowering the record of 2:06.12 Hungary’s Katinka Hosszu held for nearly 10 years. She opened the trials winning the 400-m freestyle in 3:54.18 Saturday.
McIntosh also broke her own Canadian record in the 800-m freestyle Sunday and the 200-m butterfly Tuesday. Her time in the butterfly was just .45 off the record of 2:01.81 set by China’s Liu Zige in 2009.
McIntosh also holds short course world records in the 400 free, 200 butterfly and 400 IM.
This is the ninth world record swim of McIntosh’s career.
McIntosh hesitated when asked what was harder, breaking her own records or shattering someone else’s.
“I think it’s more fun chasing records that you haven’t broken yet,” said McIntosh, who won the 400 IM at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games along with the 200 IM and 200 butterfly. “It’s immensely easier to break you own, because you kind of have to look at it as just going your personal best time.”
Later in the session Ethan Ekk, a native of Tallahassee, Fla., whose parents grew up in Vancouver, surprised even himself by setting a Canadian record in the 200-m backstroke.
His time of 1:56.54 took .20 off the old mark held by Blake Tierney, who finished second in 1:57.04.
“No sir, not at all,” said Ekk when asked if he was expecting to set a record. “Very unimaginable. So very happy with that.”
The 18-year-old, won the 400-m freestyle earlier in the week to earn selection to his first senior team, won the race swimming in Lane 6.
“I could see Blake a little bit,” said Ekk, who took home five medals from last year’s Junior Pan Pacific Championships. “I was kind of looking. It’s probably not the best thing to do but I’m still very happy with the time.”
Tierney, a Saskatoon native who trains at the High Performance Centre – Vancouver, was also under the AQUA A standard of 1:58.07 needed to compete at this summer’s World Aquatics Championships. Tierney earned selection by winning the 50 back earlier in the meet.
In a display of pure emotion Madison Kryger burst into tears after winning the women’s 200-m backstroke in 2:09.88.
“We’ve done so much training this year, it’s been so hard,” said the 16-year-old from Niagara Falls, Ont., who trains at the High Performance Centre – Ontario. “I’ve been waiting for a swim like that.
“It just means a lot to finally see my hard work paying off.”
Calgary’s Ingrid Wilm, who trains at the High Performance Centre – Vancouver, was second in 2:10.54.
Both were under the AQUA A qualifying time.
Two-time Olympian Mary-Sophie Harvey of Montreal’s CAMO club was second in a personal best time of 4:35.56, which qualified her to compete at the world championships.
The men’s 400 IM was a thrilling race with Paris Olympian Tristan Jankovics of Puslinch, Ont., battling a late charge by Calgary’s Lorne Wigginton.
Jankovics held on to win in 4:13.15, with Wigginton touching the wall in 4:13.40.
Both swimmers were under the AQUA A world championships selection standard.
“I knew Lorne was going to be there,” said Jankovics. “On the last (leg) he was coming like a train. I’m surprised I held him off to be honest.
“The goal is just to make it today.”
Jankovics earned selection for his first long course world championships thanks to his second-place finish in the 200 IM earlier this week, while Wigginton added his name to the list for the first time.
“I look over and I see everybody cheering for me. I looked up and my parents were right behind the blocks. I looked up and my mom was like waving her arms and it’s just a good feeling,” said the 19-year-old Olympian. “This whole year has been a bit of a longer one for me coming off the Olympics and everything. I really tried to do my best, especially this summer, to just have fun with it.”
Two Canadian Para swimming records fell during the day.
Nicholas Bennett of the Red Deer Catalina Swim Club teased his own SM14 world record in the 200-m individual medley.
He won the multi-class race in 2:06.36, just .39 off his record.
“With that race now, when we get a little bit more endurance under our belt, we’ll be able to challenge my world record again,” said Bennett, who won his third event of the week.
Reid Maxwell of the Edmonton Keyano Swim Club finished second in 2:30.12, .91 faster than his own SM8 Canadian record.
“Honestly it’s a little bit of a surprise,” said Maxwell. “I’m by no means an IMer, so I’m really happy with it. I was not expecting that tonight.”
In the same event, Tyson Jacob of Les Loutres swam a SM5 Canadian record time of 3:33.80.
Katie Cosgriffe ticked a box by winning the multi-class women’s 200-m medley in 2:35.57.
“I really just wanted to come and swim it the best I could and have fun with it,” said Cosgriffe, who won the 100-m butterfly on Tuesday. “I’m pretty happy with the result. I’m just hoping to improve on my performances.”
Jordan Tucker, a S4 swimmer Royal City Aquatics, won the women’s multi-class 150-m medley in 3:41.18.
“I’m very happy,” said Tucker, who set a Canadian record in the 200 freestyle earlier in the week. “I want to show people that I can do things.”
Riley Martin of Penticton’s KISU posted a personal best time of 3:17.44 to win the S4 men’s 150-m medley.
The six-day trials, which wrap up Thursday, have attracted more than 700 swimmers to Saanich Commonwealth Place in Victoria. Athletes are competing for selection to teams competing at four major international competitions: the World Aquatics Championships July 26 – Aug. 3 in Singapore, the 2025 FISU Games (Summer Universiade) July 17 – 23 in Berlin, the World Aquatics Junior Swimming Championships Aug. 19 – 24 in Otopeni, Romania, and the World Para Swimming Championships Sept. 21–27 in Singapore.
CBC Gem and https://www.cbc.ca/player/sports/live will stream each session beginning at 12:30 p.m. ET/9:30 a.m. PT for heats and 8:30 p.m. ET/5:30 p.m. PT for finals. Every session will also be live on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CBCSports/streams
For full results go to https://results.swimming.ca/2025_Canadian_Swimming_Trials/