Summer McIntosh broke Liu Zige’s long-standing women’s 200-metre butterfly world record at Canada’s trials in Montreal, touching the wall in 2:01.65 on Sunday night and reigniting attention on her bid for another packed international schedule.
Summer McIntosh didn’t just dip under a barrier—she reset it.
On Sunday night at Canada’s trials in Montreal, the Toronto teenager surged to the wall in the women’s 200-metre butterfly in 2 minutes, 1.65 seconds. It was the fastest time in the world, taking the record from Chinese swimmer Liu Zige, whose mark of 2:01.81 had stood since 2009.
Zige’s time was set during the so-called super-suit era, and it had become the longest-standing individual women’s record. McIntosh had been circling it for years. She came within 0.18 seconds of the record at last year’s world championships, swimming 2:01.99.
When she finished this time, the celebration was immediate and loud. McIntosh slammed her fists into the water, smiling ear-to-ear as the crowd erupted inside the Olympic pool.
The moment wasn’t an isolated headline for a swimmer who thrives on chasing history. The 19-year-old—an Olympic triple gold medallist at the Paris 2024 Games—now holds four long-course world records. She built that haul by setting three in five days at last year’s trials in Victoria. establishing new standards in the 400 freestyle. 400 individual medley and 200 IM. At the world championships in Singapore. she then delivered four gold medals and one silver. becoming just the second woman to win quadruple gold at a single worlds.
In the stands, fans made it personal. Signs dotted the Olympic pool. including one that read. “Fly Summer Fly!” For many in Canada. it was also a rare chance to see her race since her move to train in Austin. Texas. under renowned coach Bob Bowman. who coached Michael Phelps to a record 23 Olympic gold medals.
The night’s work feeds directly into the next stretch. McIntosh will race the 400 IM on Monday, the 400 free on Tuesday and the 200 IM on Wednesday ahead of next month’s Pan Pacific Championships in Irvine, Calif.
All of it is landing at a venue loaded with history. The Montreal event is hosting the national trials 50 years after holding the swimming competition at the 1976 Olympics.
McIntosh now enters the rest of this meet as the record-holder again—one wall touched at 2:01.65, and a chase that finally ends.
Summer McIntosh Canada trials world record women 200m butterfly Liu Zige Montreal Bob Bowman Pan Pacific Championships Singapore worlds Paris 2024