Canada’s Summer McIntosh has won the first Olympic gold medal of her young career.
McIntosh, 17, outrageously dominated the 400m individual medley, stopping the clock at 4min 27.71sec, more than five seconds ahead of her nearest pursuer.
The Torontonian, world record holder in this event, arrived in Paris as the favourite. In the final, she showed why.
As soon as she left the starting block, she settled in at the front of the eight swimmers competing and was never troubled, increasing her lead as the race progressed.
Halfway through the race, she looked set to lower her own world record by 4:24.38, but she was unable to maintain the pace until the end. Her achievement is no less significant, especially since it is already her second medal in Paris after winning silver in the 400m freestyle last Saturday.
PHOTO OLIVIER JEAN, THE PRESS
Summer McIntosh
She will also be considered the favourite in the 200m butterfly on Wednesday, an event in which she is a double world champion (2022 and 2023).
This is her second appearance at the Olympic Games, having finished fourth in two events in Tokyo in 2021 at just 14 years old.
100m backstroke: two Canadians in the final
In the 100m backstroke, we will see two Canadians in the final, as Kylie Masse and Ingrid Wilm posted the fifth and sixth times, respectively, in the semi-finals.
Masse, 28, is already a household name on the Canadian team, competing in her third Games. She has already won five career medals, including two in the 100m backstroke (bronze in 2016 and silver in 2021).
Wilm, 26, is taking part in his first Olympics. The 100m backstroke is one of his specialities, as evidenced by his bronze medal at the most recent World Aquatics Championships.
The final will take place on Tuesday a little before 3 p.m.