Summer McIntosh was going for it.
The Canadian was feeling great and had her eyes set on breaking the women’s 200-metre butterfly world record.
The record didn’t fall but the 18-year-old was still in great form, capturing her third gold medal Thursday at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore.
McIntosh touched the wall in two minutes 01.99 seconds, just missing the world record set in 2009 set by China’s Liu Zige at 2:01.81.
When she looked at the time she covered her face with her hands, seemingly in disbelief in coming so close to adding another world record in a long list of accomplishments.
“During that final, that’s probably the best I’ve ever felt in the final ever,” McIntosh said after the race. [I] felt absolutely incredible and so strong. And going to tonight, I knew I had the confidence from [the Canadian] trials that I could reach the world record. That was my goal that me and my coach had in this past month.”
American Regan Smith took the silver medal in 2:04.99, and Australian Elizabeth Dekkers earned the bronze in 2:06.12.
WATCH | McIntosh cruises to 200m butterfly title:
Summer McIntosh wins 200m butterfly final for her 3rd gold medal at the World Aquatics Championships
It was the Toronto native’s third world title in this event — also winning in 2022 and 2023. McIntosh captured the Olympic gold medal at the 2024 Paris Games.
McIntosh also won the 200m individual medley and 400m freestyle earlier in the meet.
But her goals don’t end here.
She’s aiming for five individual titles at the eight-day competition — a feat only U.S. great Michael Phelps has achieved at a single world championship.
WATCH | McIntosh aiming for 5 gold medals:
Summer McIntosh: ‘I’m 3-for-3 right now and the goal is 5-for-5’
She’s set to swim in both the 800m freestyle and 400m IM events later this week.
Canada has now won six medals at the world aquatics championships — five in swimming and one in diving.
Reporter Devin Heroux will be on site in Singapore speaking to Canadians following their races, and will join The Ready Room show live on YouTube every day after finals, with Brittany MacLean Campbell hosting from Toronto. The show will include Canadian highlights, athlete interviews and analysis.
