FORT LAUDERDALE (USA) – Summer McIntosh, a 16-year-old Canadian, outswam seven-time Olympic champion Katie Ledecky on Friday in the 200m freestyle ending the American’s nine-year winning streak when swimming domestically. 

McIntosh’s time of 1:54.13 outpaced Ledecky by 83/100ths and bettered her own previous World Junior Record as the teenager now clocks in as the ninth-fastest woman ever in the event.

“I’m really happy with that swim,” said McIntosh. “It hurt really bad.”

Image Source: World Aquatics

McIntosh’s time betters the 1:54.79 she swam last year at the World Aquatics Championships in Budapest, Hungary. Her performance also set a new U.S. Open record, the fastest time in history on American soil, and stands as the new Canadian national record.

In her short tenure on the international stage, McIntosh has broken the previous World Junior Record eight times since June of 2022.  One night earlier, McIntosh also swam a World Junior Record in the 200m butterfly.

“I wanted to see how I can manage the 200m freestyle,” added McIntosh. “I haven’t swam this event since the World Championships.”

After the race, McIntosh praised her American competitor.

“Katie is an amazing racer.  I have always looked up to her.  She’s the greatest freestyler of all time and to be able to race her is always an amazing experience. I always learn so much.”

Siobhan Haughey (HKG) finished third in 1:55.53.

Image Source: World Aquatics

A little more than an hour later Ledecky won the 400m individual medley in 4:36.04, the second-fastest time of her career. That time would have won last year’s U. S. World Championships Trials and would have placed fourth at last year’s World Aquatics Championships.

"I have often said that over the years you have to fail spectacularly sometimes and put yourself out there, and that’s what I did,” Ledecky said about her Friday night double. “It's been a lot of fun to race Summer.  It's crazy that we are training in Florida, not that far from each other.  Getting to race at these meets has brought the best out of both of us.  Every time we get up and race, we are both right there and It's going to make us both better over the next year and a half. " 

"I knew that Summer was going to swim a really fast time tonight. I was happy to get up and race and be in it.  I am always trying to go fast,” Ledecky said. “Just knowing that someone right next to me is going to swim fast, always brings the best out of me.  We were both trying to get our hands on the wall first.

“I took it one event at a time.  My fly tonight in the 400 Individual Medley felt really easy,” Ledecky added.  I’m happy with that double. I always joke that in the second half of my career, maybe I will focus on the 400m IM.”

Full Results from the TYR Pro Series - Fort Lauderdale, Florida

 

Contributing: Bence Farkas