McIntosh sets Canadian record in 800M freestyle
VICTORIA — Two Canadian Olympic medallists went head-to-head in a nail-biting 100-metre butterfly race, while Summer McIntosh of Toronto set a Canadian record in the 800-metre freestyle on Sunday at the Bell Canadian Swimming Trials in Victoria.
Ilya Kharun of Montreal and Josh Liendo of Toronto squared off in the same race that saw them share a podium at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Advertisement
Kharun won in a personal best time of 50.37 seconds, touching the wall .09 ahead of Liendo. Both were well under the AQUA A qualifying time of 51.77 for this summer's world championships in Singapore.
The 20-year-old Kharun was happy with the win but sees room for improvement.
'There's definitely some tweaks I can improve on,' said Kharun. 'I know it's not perfect yet. There's some things we've got to work on.' Liendo took silver in Paris, and Kharun the bronze. It was the first time two Canadian men stood on the Olympic podium together and first double podium for Swimming Canada since 1976 (Cheryl Gibson, Becky Smith — silver and bronze 400IM).
McIntosh had a sellout crowd on its feet at Saanich Commonwealth Place cheering as she swam the 800 metres in 8:05.07. That shaved almost five seconds off her own Canadian record and was the third-fastest time ever, 0.95 of a second off the world record American legend Katie Ledecky set in May.
Advertisement
'I'm always hoping to break records and push the boundaries of sport,' said the 18-year-old, who set a world record in the 400-metre freestyle on Saturday's opening night.
'I'm always trying to be faster and faster. That just gives me more fuel to the fire.'
Para swimmer Nicholas Bennett won his second event of the trials. The S14 swimmer with the Red Deer Catalina Swim Club won the men's 200-m multi-class freestyle event in 1:54.44. He earned a silver medal in the same race at the Paris 2024 Paralympics.
'It was really good,' said the 21-year-old from nearby Parksville, B.C., who won the men's 100-m multi-class breaststroke Saturday. 'We're right where we want to be.'
Advertisement
Kylie Masse of Lasalle, Ont., also picked up her second victory of the meet by winning the 50-m backstroke in 27.24 seconds. Ingrid Wilm of the High Performance Centre-Vancouver celebrated her 27th birthday by finishing second in 27.58.
Both swimmers were under the AQUA A qualifying time of 28.22.
'I've been enjoying doing it and putting a little more focus on it this year,' Masse said about the sprint race, in which she was the 2022 world champion. 'Every little detail counts, trying to execute it perfectly. It's really fast and really hard.'
Earning a spot on the world championships team helped Wilm shake off the disappointment of finishing third in the 100-back Saturday night. That meant she didn't qualify for the event for the upcoming world championships after reaching the finals at the Paris Olympics.
Advertisement
'I was frustrated after (Saturday) night,' said the Calgary native. 'It's to my chagrin we have such a deep field here in Canada. I relied a lot on my teammates and my coaching staff and it just once again showed me just how many people have my back.'
It was a bittersweet victory for Blake Tierney in the men's 50-m backstroke. The Saskatoon native who trains at the High Performance Centre-Vancouver won the race in personal best time of 25.23 seconds. That was over the AQUA A qualifying time of 25.11 but under Swimming Canada's secondary standard of 25.36.
"A lot of work needs to be done,' said Tierney, who has been dealing with an ankle issue. 'I couldn't do a lot of kicking, so that kind of messed with the confidence. I'm just doing the best I can. I'm really thankful I made the team.'
Two-time Olympian Mary-Sophie Harvey of Trois-Rivières, Que., also won her second race of the meet but wasn't happy with her time.
Advertisement
Harvey, who trains with Montreal's CAMO club, won the 100-m butterfly in 58.37 seconds, over the AQUA A qualifying time of 58.33 but under Swimming Canada's secondary time of 59.91.
'I'm going to be honest,' said Harvey, who won the 200 breaststroke Saturday. 'It was good practice for my individual medley.'
Montreal's Eric Brown won the 1,500-m freestyle in 15:17.54. That was over both the AQUA A time of 15:01.89 and the Swimming Canada secondary standard of 15:10.91.
In other Para swimming events, Reid Maxwell, an S8 Para swimmer from the Edmonton Keyano Swim Club, won the multi-class 400-m freestyle in 4:26.66. It was the same event in which the 17-year-old won a silver medal at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games in Canadian record time.
Advertisement
'It was a little slower than I wanted but I can't complain,' said Maxwell. 'I gave it everything I had.'
Mary Jibb, an S9 swimmer from the Pacific Sea Wolves won the multi-class 400-m freestyle in 4:52.69.
Emma Van Dyk, an S14 swimmer from the Brock Niagara Aquatics, was first in the women's 200-m multi-class freestyle in 2:23.78. Aly van Wyck-Smart, an S3 swimmer from Whitby Swimming, finished second in a Canadian record time of 4:48.05.
During the morning heats S4 swimmer Jordan Tucker of Royal City Aquatics set a Canadian record of 4:03.87 in the S4 category.
'I'm blown away,' said Tucker. 'I'm very surprised but very hopeful I can keep breaking records.'
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 8, 2025.
The Canadian Press
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


New York Times
an hour ago
- New York Times
Canada summer transfer primer: Latest on David, Buchanan, Larin and more
TORONTO – This summer is shaping up to be one of the most important in recent memory for the Canadian men's national team. It's about to enter the Gold Cup as one of the tournament favorites. With a near-full strength squad, which sets itself apart from the U.S. men's national team, Canada has one of its best opportunities to win its first trophy since 2000. Doing so would fill this team with confidence ahead of the 2026 World Cup on home soil. Advertisement And for many of Canada's players, the World Cup presents both a challenge and an opportunity this summer. They know Canada head coach Jesse Marsch wants his players logging heavy minutes on their club sides heading into the World Cup. How they approach this upcoming season could be crucial to where they land on the World Cup roster. For the likes of, say, Alphonso Davies and Moïse Bombito, this summer might not be a priority. They know they're in terrific standing with their clubs in top leagues and will use that to propel them towards the World Cup. But for others, this summer represents a potentially pivotal moment to move to a new club – and possibly secure the playing time and the World Cup spot they're after. After a week spent around Canada's men's national team in Halifax and Toronto, here's what we're hearing about the future of a number of key players. This status of this summer's most discussed transfer option – not just in Canada, but across the soccer world – remains the same: David has options across Europe's top leagues vying for his services. As things stand, he's waiting for the right combination to emerge from an interested club: an attractive project (Champions League participation is justifiably high on his list of interests) and a financial package that makes sense. 'I want a club with ambition that wants to do something,' David told The Athletic last week. 'Obviously, I would love to fight for titles, to win titles. A team that's competitive, that has ambition, really, with a good sporting project.' Don't be surprised if David, linked heavily to Napoli and Juventus, stays true to himself and exercises patience throughout the summer. Participation in the Gold Cup feels more and more likely. Koné's high-profile transfer to Ligue 1's Marseille last summer did not unfold as hoped: he made just nine appearances, drew the ire of manager Roberto de Zerbi and was loaned mid-season to Rennes. Advertisement Despite being under contract, Koné is unlikely to return to Marseille, with another loan or permanent transfer on the table. The sticking point could be finding a club that wants to pony up the cash for Marseille after the Ligue 1 side paid in the region of £15 million for Koné last summer. A return to Rennes is still possible, but only if the club is willing to find the kind of money to turn Koné's loan deal into a permanent buy option. Could he be on his way to another new club, his fourth in just over a year? 'In football, there's a lot of changes. So, I'd be OK with that,' he told The Athletic. The experience in France was a humbling and eye-opening one for the prodigious No. 8. From the benefits of private physios to adding extra hours to his training regimen, Koné learned how vast the gap is between newcomers and those who compete regularly in Europe's top leagues. For his part, Koné seems to have a better understanding of how to be successful in Europe. He told The Athletic that in his next club, he wants 'an environment where I can showcase my skills, my talent and I could just grow and learn, because that's what I want to do: grow and progress and be the best player I can be. You're never going find an organization that's going guarantee (playing time), that just comes with work. For me it's the most important is to find an environment where I could be myself and learn and grow.' Whenever a forward bursts onto the scene by averaging a goal every 126 minutes en route to winning the Belgian Pro League, there's going to be questions about that player's future. Despite interest from clubs in France and England, though, the safe bet is for Promise David to stay in Belgium next season. He still has plenty to learn about the training demands of a European club. David will play more regularly next season as well, including in the Champions League. Advertisement The honesty David shared with The Athletic about a possible move should should speak for itself: 'I've never been in a position where I have options to move,' David said. 'People were telling me in January, a bunch of options started popping up. People were like, 'Are you going to take off?' And I was like, 'The grass is f—ing green here.' You can go somewhere else and maybe the grass isn't as green as you thought. I mean technically you can say, 'Yeah, I did conquer Belgium.' And I didn't play a full season but then – I didn't even play a whole season. So maybe I should sit there and soak up as much training as possible. If my team decides to sell me, because they damn well can, I'm ready to go, but I'm happy with where I'm at. I'm not pressuring myself to go for it. If there's a better option that suits both parties, and everybody's happy with that, sure, why not? Pack up my bags and move. But I just extended my lease, it'd be a damn shame.' Expect the up-and-coming central midfielder to make a move this summer to Europe, with Belgium's Anderlecht the frontrunner to sign him. 'If the project is good for me, I would open to (a summer transfer), because I think for my future I would love to be able to get to play in Europe and experience that,' Saliba said. Canada's coaches have come to adore how well Saliba owns the space in the middle of the park with his ball-winning ability, dribbling and size. They see what others around MLS have seen, as Saliba has stepped into a more regular starting position. Saliba needs to be pushed at a higher level to have a chance of winning starts at the World Cup, though. Of the many positive takeaways from Canada's 4-2 friendly win over Ukraine, Buchanan's resurgence has to be at the top. Canada's best player at the 2022 World Cup has fallen on trying times: a move to Inter Milan didn't lead to consistent minutes, and a horrific injury at Copa América cut into his playing time and development. He only looked to be finding his footing toward the end of a mid-season loan to La Liga's Villarreal. But Buchanan's goal and two assists on Saturday had him turning a corner. 'I feel like my old self,' Buchanan said postgame. Advertisement Canada's coaches like how Buchanan played in more of a right midfield role with Villarreal as opposed to the right wingback role he occupied with Inter Milan. They want him to occupy more central areas of the pitch and be more connected to the team's forwards. That way, Canada believes he can be more effective in transition. So what does that mean for Buchanan's immediate club future? It's worth wondering if the positional versatility he'll gain from a strong Gold Cup this summer could make him more valuable to Inter. Could newly-appointed Inter manager Cristian Chivu sense Buchanan's versatility and try him in different positions as opposed to right wingback to make him fit? Chivu's recent history working with and developing younger players in Italy could help Buchanan's case in Milan. 'When the time comes at the end of the season, I guess that's when I'll reflect,' Buchanan told The Athletic in March of his club future. That time is now, and it certainly feels like the hyper-determined Buchanan could return to Inter to fight for his place next season. After a remarkable second start for Canada in which De Fougerolles commanded play in the back against Ukraine, things could soon turn at the club level for the uber-intelligent teenager. De Fougerolles is out of contract with Fulham come July 1. It's believed Fulham has expressed genuine interest in re-signing him. But is a return to Fulham – and possibly the Under-21 side – the best path for a player who looks more than ready for regular first-team minutes? That's the priority for De Fougerolles right now: Getting into a senior environment ahead of the World Cup. 'I need first-team football,' De Fougerolles said declaratively. 'I'd like a loan. I think I can obviously push for it to play first-team minutes. Obviously if Fulham want me around, I'll gladly stay and be around the team. But a loan would be amazing. So just to play 40 professional games a season, I feel like that's part of the game that maybe I'm missing. With the Under-21s, it's less competitive. So if I were to go to a League One or a Championship team, I think every game would be competitive and that would give me something that I haven't had much of, and I think that experience would really put me in a good space.' Advertisement While De Fougerolles mentioned two English leagues, don't be surprised if he considers top-tier options outside of Europe's biggest leagues. A move to a team that develops young players is starting to feel more likely, with options in Belgium, the Netherlands or Austria as possibilities. After becoming a frequent starter in a variety of positions for Hajduk Split at just 21, it sounds like Sigur and his camp are pushing more than ever for opportunities outside of Croatia. A team in the Netherlands or Belgium that plays in European competitions makes sense. Increasing his understanding of how different European teams play ahead of the World Cup is a priority. 'Honestly, I think it's more down to what the club wants,' Sigur said of a possible move. 'I have a contract (through) 2028, so there's been a little bit of communication, but I think it was clear that when I come back from the Gold Cup, we're going to come to a decision. And obviously there needs to be concrete offers and offers that make sense for me to go. Obviously, with World Cup coming up, I want to be playing. And I've been in Hajduk three years now. So I know I am well respected there. I'm going to be one of the more senior players, if that's even possible. I'm only 21, but a lot of guys are going to move on, and it's a really young team.' After a strong first half to the season in La Liga, the longtime Canadian forward cooled. Larin scored just two goals in his final 16 La Liga appearances this season. Despite having a contract until 2028, Larin sounds ready for a different opportunity. 'I would love to stay in Spain and play at the top level. I've done well there. I played well with Valladolid. It's just about finding a team that fits my style. When I played with Valladolid (on loan in 2023), we created chances. When I get chances, I can score. But when you don't get chances, it's harder to score,' Larin told The Athletic. As things stand, Larin's spot as a starter at the 2026 World Cup doesn't feel assured. He knows from experience that he needs regular playing time to be at his most effective. 'Leading up to (the 2022 World Cup), I wasn't playing so much. It was very difficult. I had to put in more work to play and my fitness wasn't there. I played a big role when I played in the World Cup 2022 in Qatar, but I could feel my fitness a little bit,' he said. Advertisement While Larin wants to stay in Spain, would he consider a mid-season move to MLS? The Brampton-born striker, who starred at Orlando City before bolting for Europe, might not be at that stage just yet, but he would consider it. 'If the option was there and the time was right, I would have to evaluate it,' he said. Oluwaseyi is in the middle of his best professional season: he has eight goals in just 16 MLS appearances. Marsch and the Canada coaching staff remain high on Oluwaseyi and his ability to execute their pressing demands while still creating opportunities. Others are seeing Oluwaseyi elevate his play, too: it's believed there are clubs in France, Belgium and the English Championship currently monitoring him. Still, the probability of a move this summer feels low, at least for now. 'There's enough to think about at Minnesota. There's a lot to do at Minnesota, so I think my focus is just there for the most part,' Oluwaseyi said. Oluwaseyi is instead a candidate to turn a few memorable performances at the World Cup into a move in 2026. 'I'd be lying if I said as a player I didn't want to challenge myself,' Oluwaseyi said. 'I feel like Minnesota or MLS has been a pretty good challenge. And another challenge comes along that, that is the right one for me, and I'll definitely be up for it.' The emerging defender is under contract with Bristol City until 2027. After spending last season on loan with Crewe Alexandra in England's fourth tier, Knight-Lebel will not look for another loan this summer. Expect him to push for a regular spot with Bristol City and try to play as many Championship games as possible. Knight-Lebel's inclusion in every Canada squad since October suggests he's in the mix for a World Cup spot. Not just fighting for, but getting games at Bristol City could fortify that spot.


New York Times
an hour ago
- New York Times
Tottenham asked to reinstate Ange Postecoglou as head coach by Melbourne mayor
The mayor of one of Australia's biggest cities has asked Tottenham Hotspur to 'reconsider' their decision to sack head coach Ange Postecoglou, adding they risk being 'known as the team that is allergic to silverware'. The 59-year-old Postecoglou, who was born in Greece but grew up in Melbourne in the Australian state of Victoria, was relieved of his duties by Tottenham on Friday after two seasons at the helm. Advertisement He led Spurs to their first trophy in 17 years when they won the Europa League on May 21 but oversaw a league campaign that ended with a 17th-place finish and 22 losses, both record lows for the club in the Premier League era. Postecoglou spent the majority of his playing career with South Melbourne FC — a club founded by Greek immigrants and originally known as South Melbourne Hellas — and was head coach of the team between 1996 and 2000. After leading Australia at the 2014 World Cup and winning the 2015 Asian Cup as head coach of the national team, Postecoglou remains popular in his home city and nation, with Lord Mayor of Melbourne Nicholas Reece even taking the step to publicly urge Tottenham to reverse their decision. 'On behalf of the people of Melbourne, and Premier League fans around the world, I call on Tottenham Hotspur to reconsider its decision to sack coach Ange Postecoglou,' said Mr Reece in a post on Instagram. 'In Melbourne we have followed Ange's career closely for decades. 'Never underestimate Ange's determination to win, and his ability to carry teams to greatness. We have seen this time again over his career. This year Tottenham made history by winning the Europa League trophy — its first such win in 17 years. We will see further trophies if Ange is given the chance. 'Don't let Tottenham be known as the team that is allergic to silverware. Let Ange lead the players onto greatness in next year's Premier League campaign.' Mr Reece is a member of Australia's Labor Party and assumed his role in July 2024, before retaining it in the 2024 Melbourne City Council election. Tottenham are yet to confirm Postecoglou's replacement. The Athletic reported on Monday that the club had contacted Brentford as they seek to reach an agreement to appoint Thomas Frank as head coach. ()


New York Times
an hour ago
- New York Times
Judge in Hockey Canada sexual assault trial sets verdict date for July 24
LONDON, Ont. – Justice Maria Carroccia set July 24 as the decision date in the Hockey Canada sexual assault trial. During Tuesday's proceedings, in which the defense continued closing arguments, Carroccia said verdicts would be delivered in person on that date. Michael McLeod, Carter Hart, Alex Formenton, Dillon Dubé and Cal Foote are all charged with sexual assault after an alleged incident in June 2018. The complainant — a woman known as E.M., whose identity is protected by a publication ban — has said she was sexually assaulted over the span of several hours in a London, Ont., hotel room. The players were in town for a Hockey Canada event celebrating their gold medal at the 2018 World Junior Championship. Advertisement McLeod is also facing a second charge for 'being a party to the offense' for what the Crown has asserted was his role 'assisting and encouraging his teammates to engage sexually' with E.M. All five players have pleaded not guilty at the commencement of the trial, which is in its eighth and final week. — The Athletic's Kamila Hinkson contributed reporting remotely from Montreal. (Photo by Andy Devlin / Getty Images)