By Matthew Davis
Summer McIntosh is chasing after Michael Phelps at the World Aquatics Championships.
The 18-year-old Canadian female swimmer won her second gold medal at the meet on Monday in Singapore. She’s on pace for five individual gold medals, which would match Phelps, who did it in 2009 at Rome.
McIntosh won the gold in the 200-meter individual medley clocking 2:06.69 on Monday, a day after she took the 400 meter freestyle in 3:56.26.
“My goal in the 400 freestyle was just to get my hand on the wall first,” McIntosh told CBC afterward. “And then as I touched the wall, I barely looked at my time, and then I literally ran off, warmed down, and got ready for the 200 IM.”
“That 400 freestyle, I was so in control that entire race and super strong and long, and overall, just felt like I had my complete endurance,” she added.
McIntosh’s 200 meter time fell short of her world record of 2:05.7, which she set at the Canadian Trials in June. American Alex Walsh gave McIntosh some trouble at 2:08.58 in second place, and Canada’s Mary-Sophie Harvey won bronze at 2:09.15 for her first long-course world championship individual medal.
“Definitely the highlight for me tonight was Mary getting on the podium. That’s absolutely incredible,” McIntosh said via CBC. “She’s worked so hard for this and to see her get the result, I mean, I think she’s over the moon about it, and she deserves it. And to share that moment for Team Canada was amazing.”
The two enjoyed the moment at the medal podium during the Canadian national anthem—something they didn’t get to do in the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. Harvey came up short of the podium for multiple events in France last year.
“I just wanted to get a medal for Canada and step on the podium with Summer again,” Harvey told CBC. “It’s something really special.”
For the 400, McIntosh beat China’s Li Bingjie and U.S. great Katie Ledecky, a nine-time Olympic gold medalist. McIntosh won her first international gold for the 400, though she once clocked a world record at 3:54.18.
“It was a lot easier than I thought,” McIntosh said about her double. “I’m not just saying that. I felt really strong in the 200 IM, and I was able to, you know, not go all in and still go a decent time. So overall, I was really happy with it.”
McIntosh can now match Phelps’ record with the 800 freestyle, the 200 butterfly, and the 400 individual medley at the championships. While McIntosh is primed for history on Aug. 3, she’s focused on the here and now.
“So, I’m really excited for the 800 freestyle later on in the meet. But really, honestly, I’m just trying to take it one race at a time and day by day,” McIntosh said.
McIntosh has six career gold medals in long-course world championship events, and she has four Olympic medals from 2024. At the world championships, Canada has been winning overall with four medals between McIntosh’s two, Harvey’s medal, and diver Simone Leathead.
In the 20 meter high dive, Leathead captured silver with a score of 90. Her last dive featured a half twist pike and an inward three somersaults.
“Today took a little turn because of the weather, but I’m super happy with what I did. Being able to do six dives to the best of my ability, I’m just super proud,” Leathead told reporters via CBC afterward.
“I’m coming from a diving background and the world championships were always on my ‘big dreams list,’ so to be able to compete and do great and be able to be on the podium is just a very big accomplishment for me,” she added.
Gretchen Walsh Grabs Gold For US Amid Gastro Outbreak
Things haven’t gone as planned for Team USA amid an acute gastroenteritis outbreak, which occurred at training camp in Thailand before the championships.
Only one U.S. swimmer, Gretchen Walsh, has won gold thus far in the aftermath. She did it in style with a 54.73-second clip in the 100 meter butterfly, which was just short of her world record of 54.60 in May.
“And that swim took a lot of guts but really so happy with the result,” Walsh told NBC Sports on Monday. “I was aiming for a 55, so to go 54 was really a surprise and something I’m really proud of.”
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