Latest news with #FredVergnoux
CBC
16-07-2025
- Sport
- CBC
Summer McIntosh & Mireia Belmonte, what do they have in common?
Rio 2016 Olympic champion for Spain Mireia Belmonte credits much of her success to longtime coach Fred Vergnoux, who is now coaching Summer McIntosh. We asked Vergnoux what commonalities and differences he sees between the two champion swimmers.
CBC
16-07-2025
- Sport
- CBC
'I think I owe a lot to Fred': Coach reacts to Summer McIntosh's kind words
Fred Vergnoux was this week's guest on The Ready Room and we had him watch and react to what Summer McIntosh said about him at Canadian swimming trials.
CBC
16-07-2025
- Sport
- CBC
Even with her iconic performances, swim coach says Summer McIntosh is only getting started
Social Sharing Canadian swimming star Summer McIntosh has already had her name etched into the history books for her record-smashing swims and a trio of Olympic gold medals from Paris 2024, but her coach Fred Vergnoux believes she still has more to give. "When we talk with Summer, we don't talk about any limits. And that's something that I really enjoy with her. We have a very high level of expectation, we expect a lot more," Vergnoux said in an interview with CBC Sports host Brittany MacLean. McIntosh broke three world records under the guidance of Vergnoux at the Canadian trials in June, in the 400-metre freestyle, the 200m individual medley, as well as her own 400m IM record. Vergnoux, who has successfully coached athletes at the past five summer Olympics, is based in France and is currently training McIntosh ahead of the World Aquatics swimming championships in Singapore, when the first finals begin on Sunday, July 27. The two have been training together since January 2025. In the eyes of Vergnoux, it's McIntosh's consistency that sets her apart from others. "I think that's probably what makes the difference between her and the rest is that she never has a day off," he said. "She's just embracing every single session to become better and that's pretty unique. He adds that her age — 18 years old— lends itself well to her work ethic. "She's young, and she's also very innocent still, even though she's such a successful swimmer, she has that innocence as a late-old teenager," he said. "That's why she's so into what she does on a daily basis." More to come Vergnoux believes the winning will only continue, and more world records in two other events will fall: the 200m butterfly, an event she won at the Paris Olympics, and the much talked about 800m. "The three world records that she did, I think she can improve that," said Vergnoux. "And we seem to forget that she was 0.2 [seconds] off the 200-metre butterfly, which is for me the most difficult one to reach." But it's the 800m event where Vergnoux made his boldest prediction. That event has been owned by legendary swimmer Katie Ledecky since she captured gold at the 2012 London Games. Summer McIntosh's next world record, according to Coach Fred Vergnoux | The Ready Room 16 hours ago Fred Vergnoux was by her side when Summer McIntosh broke 3 world records in 5 days at Canadian swim trials, and so we had to ask him, "What record will Summer set next?," here's what he had to say. The 28-year-old star has followed that up with three more gold medals, including one in Paris. Proving she's still the queen of the event, Ledecky then broke her own world record at the TYR Pro Swim Series in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., touching the wall in eight minutes and 4.12 seconds back in May. Yet what has fans believing McIntosh, who will challenge Ledecky in the 800m in Singapore, can triumph is that the Toronto native beat her American rival at an event prior to the Paris Olympics. McIntosh swam in a national record time of 8:11.39, beating Ledecky's time of 8:17.12 – a nearly six second gap. Ledecky had not lost an 800m final for more than 13 years. "I think she's swam [the 800] four or five times," Vergnoux pointed out. "[McIntosh has] no experience in the 800 freestyle. I think Summer can go under eight minutes and be the first one to the break long course [world record], no question." In an interview with CBC Sports' Devin Heroux, McIntosh says Vergnoux has pushed her to go faster than she ever thought possible. "He's done absolutely amazing with me," she said. "It's been awesome to know that he fully believes me. It's absolutely amazing. And I think that's such an important relationship to have, because I 100 per cent believe in him and as well, and that's so important to have the belief in each other." Summer McIntosh on what's next after record-breaking week at Canadian swim trials 1 month ago CBC Sports' Devin Heroux sat down with Summer McIntosh after she set three world records and five national records at the Canadian swim trials in Victoria, B.C. In the fall, McIntosh will move to Texas to train under world class coach Bob Bowman, who guided Michael Phelps to unprecedented success in the pool on his way to becoming most decorated Olympian of all-time. But before then, McIntosh is expected to compete in the 200m butterfly, 400m freestyle, 800m freestyle, and 200m and 400m IMs, at the swim worlds. "We should just enjoy watching Summer swimming. I think it's only the start for Summer McIntosh, to be honest. For three gold medals in Paris, I think that's the beginning of something amazing," Vergnoux said. "She's going to carry on writing the story of swimming."
New York Times
12-06-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Summer McIntosh breaks third world record in 5 days, matches Michael Phelps' feat
Three-time Olympic champion Summer McIntosh can't be slowed down at the 2025 Canadian Swimming Trials. The 18-year-old Toronto native set her third world record in five days while swimming the 400-meter individual medley in 4:23.65. It beat her previous record of 4:24.38 set at the 2024 Canadian Olympic Trials. Advertisement '(The) 400 IM is the race I've come close to mastering for myself,' McIntosh told CBC. 'So going into tonight, I knew it would take an extra little push if I wanted to lower, or, go a best time I'd like to say, since I hold the world record. … I mean, overall, happy with the time, but I know I can go faster. The faster I swim, the happier I am.' Earlier in the trials, McIntosh began her streak by setting a record in the 400-meter freestyle on Saturday and in the 200-meter individual medley on Monday. She finished the 400m freestyle in 3:54.18, winning by more than 13 seconds. McIntosh took more than a second off the previous record of 3:55.38 set by Ariarne Titmus of Australia in 2023. Two days later, McIntosh swam the 200m medley in 2:05.70 and broke the record of 2:06.12 set by Katinka Hosszú of Hungary in 2015. With her impressive time, McIntosh became the first female swimmer to finish the event under 2:06. 'Summer-mania' sweeps nation as McIntosh notches 3rd world record ⭐️ Ever-humble, Summer McIntosh thanks her coach Fred Vergnoux for her success, and all the people cheering her on in Victoria, BC. Watch our 'The Ready Room' recap after finals: — CBC Olympics (@CBCOlympics) June 12, 2025 Her performance at this year's trials in Victoria, British Columbia, put McIntosh in elite company with Michael Phelps, who was the last person to break a world record in three individual events at one meet, doing so at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Additionally, McIntosh had her record-setting week at the Saanich Commonwealth Place pool, the same venue where Phelps set three world records at the 2006 Pan Pacific Championships. Phelps competed in five Olympic Games (2000, 2004, 2008, 2012 and 2016) and racked up 23 gold medals, three silvers and two bronzes while dominating everyone else in the pool. Advertisement McIntosh already has three Olympic golds and one silver after competing for Canada in the 2024 Paris Games. She also participated in the 2020 Tokyo Games in 2021 at age 14, making her the youngest member of the Canadian team. McIntosh did not medal in Tokyo. The swimming sensation turns 19 on Aug. 18, and at such a young age, she could potentially compete in three more Olympic Games and match Phelps' five. McIntosh now turns her attention to training for the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore from July 11 to Aug. 3.
Toronto Star
11-06-2025
- Sport
- Toronto Star
Toronto's Summer McIntosh threatens the most unbreakable record in women's swimming at 18. Nothing is out of reach
VICTORIA—Here at Commonwealth Place, some swimmers change outfits on the pirate ship in the empty children's pool; there are only four rows of stands, on two sides. The place can feel cramped. But for one swimmer, the pool is almost infinite. Summer McIntosh came to the Canadian trials for her first major, full-program, long-course meet with real intention since her four medals in Paris. She trained differently in the five months coming in, with star French coach Fred Vergnoux. She wanted to do something special.
