Canadian teenager Summer McIntosh smashes 200m medley world record
Gold medallist Summer McIntosh of Canada celebrates as shes poses with her medal after winning the women's 200m individual medley. PHOTO: REUTERS
MONTREAL – Summer McIntosh said there was 'no room for mistakes' as she smashed the decade-old world record in the women's 200m individual medley on June 9, touching the wall in 2min 5.70sec for her second record at the Canadian swimming trials.
The 18-year-old eclipsed Hungarian Katinka Hosszu's mark of 2:06.12 set at the 2015 World Championships to become the first woman to duck under 2:06.
It was triple Olympic gold medallist McIntosh's second world record of the meet following her 400m freestyle world record on June 7.
The gifted Canadian teenager had also impressed during her victory in the 800m freestyle on June 8, clocking the third-fastest time in history in an event not typically regarded as her strongest.
Yet McIntosh showed no signs of fatigue with another dazzling performance to delight the crowd in British Columbia on June 9.
'Overall really happy with that time and always just trying to keep pushing forward,' she said after her record-breaking display.
'It's awesome. 200IM is my main race out of my top five or six races where I really have to execute perfectly.
'There's no room for mistakes and it's kind of a sprint event for me, so I'm really happy with that. It gives me a lot of confidence heading into Singapore,' added McIntosh, referring to the World Championships in July.
Asked how she had prepared herself for her latest effort after a gruelling weekend, she added: 'Just recovering, sleeping as much as possible and eating a lot.
'And also mentally calming myself down and taking it one race at a time. I've had a lot of practice at that these past few years.'
McIntosh laid the foundations for her assault on the record with flawless opening sections in the butterfly and backstroke before an improved breaststroke – her weakest discipline – left her on world record pace.
From there she turned on the after-burners in the closing freestyle to obliterate Hosszu's record.
Mary-Sophie Harvey trailed in second in 2:08.78 with Ashley McMillan third in 2:12.08
Elsewhere, world record holder Kaylee McKeown survived a huge fright before winning the 50m backstroke at the Australian World Championship trials after being disqualified from her heat and then reinstated.
The reigning Olympic 100m and 200m backstroke gold medallist hit the wall in 27.33 seconds to edge Mollie O'Callaghan (27.39) in the final and book her ticket to the championships in Singapore.
It came after a nerve-racking day for the 23-year-old, who won her morning heat convincingly but was disqualified over a slight head movement on the blocks, where competitors must be absolutely still.
The distraught gold medal favourite and 2023 world champion appealed against the disqualification and had to endure an anxious two-hour wait before being reinstated.
'I guess it's just the way that the cookie crumbles,' said McKeown. 'But you know, I'm really happy to have had the chance to race tonight.
'It wasn't exactly what I wanted or what I've trained for, but I'm on the team, so I'm happy for that.'
Reigning world champion Isaac Cooper was fastest in the men's 50m race, touching in 24.69 to qualify. AFP
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