July 5 (Reuters) – Summer McIntosh wiped out the last “supersuit” world record in women’s swimming on Sunday with a stunning victory in the 200 metres butterfly at Canada’s trials for the Pan Pacific Championships.
Olympic and world champion McIntosh touched the wall in two minutes, 1.65 seconds in the final in Montreal, eclipsing Liu Zige’s long-standing record (2:01.81) at China’s National Games in October 2009.
Liu’s mark was set months before polyurethane suits were banned from global competition and was considered one of the hardest records to break.
But McIntosh has been chipping away.
The 19-year-old became the second woman to break 2:02.00 at last year’s world championships and now owns five of the six fastest times in the event.
“As you can see my emotions, this means the absolute world,” she said poolside.
“Growing up, this is the one world record I thought I would never break and to do it tonight is really special in front of a home crowd.
“It means the absolute world and I’m in shock right now.”
McIntosh now holds world records in four events, having claimed the 200 and 400 metres individual medley (IM), and 400 metres freestyle at last year’s Canadian trials.
She will have chances to raise the bar again, starting with the 400 IM on Monday.
With three Olympic gold medals at the Paris Games and eight world championships since 2022, McIntosh is hurtling toward greatness in women’s swimming despite still being in her teen years.
(Reporting by Ian Ransom; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman)
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