logo
Summer McIntosh has no limits. Why her next level of greatness may come at the world swim championships

Summer McIntosh has no limits. Why her next level of greatness may come at the world swim championships

Toronto Star2 days ago
July 26, 2025
6 min read
Save
By Bruce ArthurColumnist
SINGAPORE—Here on the other side of the planet, Summer McIntosh is trying to conquer the swimming world, and it's important to remember that nobody else can do this. She already won three individual gold medals at the Olympics in Paris, tying for the second-most by a female swimmer behind East Germany's Kristin Otto in 1988. Otto's feat, of course, looks so much duller in the light of history. Everyone knows McIntosh is great.
But there are levels to greatness and, at the world championships in Singapore, McIntosh has a chance to continue her staggering, almost disorienting climb. The Toronto native set three world records at the Canadian trials in Victoria last month and nearly brought down the two most untouchable records in women's swimming, all in five days. (The last swimmer to set three world records in one meet was Michael Phelps at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.) The meet brought McIntosh's coach, Fred Vergnoux, to the verge of tears. It was astonishing.
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
Bruce Arthur is a columnist for the Star. Follow him on Twitter: @bruce_arthur.
Related Stories
Canada's backstroke big-gamer Kylie Masse focused on worlds, not 2028 L.A. Olympics
Record-smasher Summer McIntosh has Katie Ledecky (and Michael Phelps) in her sights for swim worlds
Inside what makes Summer McIntosh so great — and why some believe she's better than we thought
Penny Oleksiak won't be at the world championships. Here's what you need to know about her whereabouts case
Report an error
Journalistic Standards
About The Star
More from The Star & partners
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Rangers strike early, run winning streak to 6 with 8-1 victory over struggling Braves
Rangers strike early, run winning streak to 6 with 8-1 victory over struggling Braves

Winnipeg Free Press

time31 minutes ago

  • Winnipeg Free Press

Rangers strike early, run winning streak to 6 with 8-1 victory over struggling Braves

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Josh Smith hit a two-run home run, Wyatt Langford had a bases-clearing double and the surging Texas Rangers piled up eight runs in the first three innings in an 8-1 victory over the struggling Atlanta Braves on Sunday. Josh Jung added a two-run single to help the Rangers sweep the three-game series. Rookie Jack Leiter (7-6) set a career high with 100 pitches and matched a career mark with seven strikeouts. He allowed a run on two hits and three walks over six innings. Texas (56-50) has won six straight games, going six games over .500 for the first time since April 6. The Rangers are four games out of first place in the AL West, gaining seven games since July 8, and are a half-game out of a wild-card spot. Atlanta starter Bryce Elder (4-7), who grew up about an hour's drive northwest of Arlington in Decatur, gave up all eight runs. The Braves (44-60) managed only four hits in dropping their fifth straight. Having played in the last seven postseasons, they're 12 games out of a wild-card position. Texas' Corey Seager singled and walked to extend his on-base streak to 27 games, the majors' longest current streak. Key moment Leiter pitched with a 3-1 lead but runners at second and third with one out in the second after Sean Murphy's RBI double, then retired Ozzie Albies and Nick Allen on weak contact. Key stat Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. The Rangers went 8-1 on their homestand following the All-Star break. Up next Both teams will play Monday nighton the road. Braves RHP Spencer Strider (4-8, 3.72 ERA) will face 45-year-old Kansas City LHP Rich Hill (0-1, 1.80). Rangers RHP Jacob deGrom (10-2, 2.28) will go against the Los Angeles Angels. ___ AP MLB:

Alex Bregman hits 2-run HR, Red Sox take series vs. Dodgers with 4-3 win
Alex Bregman hits 2-run HR, Red Sox take series vs. Dodgers with 4-3 win

Winnipeg Free Press

time31 minutes ago

  • Winnipeg Free Press

Alex Bregman hits 2-run HR, Red Sox take series vs. Dodgers with 4-3 win

BOSTON (AP) — Alex Bregman hit a go-ahead, two-run homer in the fifth inning and the Boston Red Sox hung on to beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 4-3 Sunday for a series win. Rookie Roman Anthony added an RBI triple for the Red Sox, who captured their first series since the All-Star break. Boston had a 10-game winning streak entering the break. Boston closer Aroldis Chapman walked off the mound with an apparent injury in the eighth inning. In to face the top of the Dodgers' order, his velocity was noticeably down to the mid-90 mph on his fastball instead of the high 90s to low 100s. Michael Conforto hit a solo homer and had two doubles for the Dodgers. Jordan Hicks entered and got out of a two-on, one-out mess when Teoscar Hernández lined to second and Ceddanne Rafaela dove to the bag, beating Hyeseong Kim for double play. Hicks pitched the ninth for his second save. Brennan Bernardino (4-2) got an out in relief for the victory. Facing his former team for the first time since getting the final out of the World Series for them last fall, Boston right-hander Walker Buehler gave up three runs in 4 2/3 innings. The Dodgers had opened a 3-1 lead in the fourth against Buehler when Conforto homered and Mookie Betts added an RBI single. Dodgers starter Dustin May (6-7) allowed four runs in five innings. Key moment Bregman hit a first-pitch sweeper from May over the Green Monster that caromed off a billboard onto the field. May dropped his head back in disbelief after the ball left Bregman's bat. Key stat Boston improved to 11-2 in its past 13 games at Fenway Park. Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. Up next Dodgers: RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto (8-7, 2.55 ERA) is scheduled to start Monday in Cincinnati. Red Sox: RHP Richard Fitts (1-4, 4.86) is set to start Monday at Minnesota. ___ AP MLB:

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store