It took a few intervals before John Atkinson realized that Summer McIntosh’s 400-metre freestyle at the Canadian Swimming Trials might be something unique.
The 16-year-old Toronto native continued her rapid rise to dominance in her sport on Tuesday by setting a world record time of three minutes and 56.08 seconds over the distance.
“I was well settled in my corner and saw the first 50 meters and I was like, ‘Oh, okay!’ Said Atkinson, Swimming Canada’s high performance director and national coach, during a videoconference Wednesday.
“Then, with 29 intervals remaining, I ask someone sitting with me where the world record intervals are,” he added. I wanted them brought to me. »
McIntosh’s time eclipsed the record of 3:56.40 set last year by Australian Ariarne Titmus, as well as her own Canadian record of 3:59.32.
“I don’t really focus on the records, but obviously it’s a dream for any athlete to set a world record or something like that,” McIntosh said Wednesday. I am still shocked.
“It was an incredible moment to share with all the Canadians in the stands, as well as my family and friends on site. »
Atkinson said he thought he saw the record broken when McIntosh broke the 250-yard mark.
“I thought it was happening,” he said. “It’s happening now”. I stood up shaking my arms. I looked stupid towards the end, but I didn’t really mind. »
It is the first long course world record by a Canadian since Kylie Masse in the 100m backstroke at the 2017 World Championships in Budapest, and the first to be set at the Canadian Trials since Amanda Reason in the 50m breaststroke (30.23 seconds), in Montreal in 2009.
McIntosh has had many successes since finishing fourth in the 400-meter freestyle as a 14-year-old at the Tokyo Olympics.
She won four medals at the last World Championships in Budapest (two gold, one silver and one bronze), six medals at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England (two gold, three silver and one bronze), as well as three medals at the 2021 Short Course Championships in Abu Dhabi (one gold and two silver).
McIntosh is back in her hometown after recently moving to Florida to train with the Sarasota Sharks under the supervision of Brent Arckey.
“It’s of course different than living in Toronto, because it’s my home and always will be,” she said.
The Canadian Swimming Trials, which began Tuesday, are used to select national team members for the World Championships and Pan American Games later this year.