Summer McIntoshB次元官网网址檚 continued assault on the international swimming podium in 2023 made her The Canadian Press female athlete of the year.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 very honoured to have it and itB次元官网网址檚 just really cool,B次元官网网址� McIntosh said of the award.
A talent for swimming fast combined with poise beyond her years has the Toronto teenager tracking for a monstrous 2024.
A couple weeks shy of her 17th birthday, McIntosh defended her world titles in the 200-metre butterfly and 400-metre individual medley in Fukuoka, Japan, to become a double world champion in back-to-back years.
B次元官网网址淲hat IB次元官网网址檓 most proud of is just how much IB次元官网网址檝e learned about myself and kind of how much IB次元官网网址檝e gained from each experience,B次元官网网址� McIntosh said.
B次元官网网址淕oing into big meets like a world championship, I donB次元官网网址檛 really have exact expectations of myself especially when it comes to placement or medals, but I definitely tried to just reach my full potential in each one of my races and I think I did that for the most part.B次元官网网址�
After placing fourth in the 400-metre freestyle in Fukuoka in her first race B次元官网网址� she was a silver medallist in 2022 B次元官网网址� McIntosh rallied with a bronze in the 200 free before climbing to the top of the podium in her next two races.
B次元官网网址淚 needed to learn how to get back up just after a race that I wasnB次元官网网址檛 happy with,B次元官网网址� she said.
B次元官网网址淢entally and physically repairing myself and getting ready for the next race was super-important. That was my first race of the meet. I had lots of other opportunities to do well so I kind of just put it behind me and kept moving forward.B次元官网网址�
She capped her four-medal meet swimming the freestyle anchor leg to help the womenB次元官网网址檚 medley relay team take bronze and qualify for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
Two world records at Canadian trials in March set the stage for her banner world championship.
McIntosh beat by almost half a second the previous 400 IM world record set by HungaryB次元官网网址檚 Katinka Hosszu at the 2016 Olympic Games, and lowered the 400 freestyle record by just over a quarter of a second.
The Canadian was the first swimmer in history to hold both the 400 IM and 400 freestyle world records at the same time, which McIntosh did for almost four months until AustraliaB次元官网网址檚 Ariarne Titmus reclaimed the freestyle record in Fukuoka in July.
B次元官网网址淭his time last year, I wouldnB次元官网网址檛 have ever thought IB次元官网网址檇 break two world records or previous world records. I think itB次元官网网址檚 still a bit surreal to be honest,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淭hat just kind of comes back to trying to just keep my head down and keep working and not focus too much on records like that, but itB次元官网网址檚 a really cool part and kind of a timestamp in history.B次元官网网址�
McIntosh put an exclamation mark on her year by ending U.S. star Katie LedeckyB次元官网网址檚 11-year run of 400-metre freestyle victories in American pools.
Ledecky hadnB次元官网网址檛 lost a 400 in her home country since she was 15 years old. McIntosh beat her by almost three seconds at the U.S. Open in Greensboro, N.C. on Dec. 1.
B次元官网网址淵eah, crazy things,B次元官网网址� said McIntoshB次元官网网址檚 Canadian teammate Marie-Sophie Harvey. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 going to be crazy things in Paris, let me tell you. SheB次元官网网址檚 just a phenomenon.B次元官网网址�
The Canadian Press began recognizing male and female athletes of the year in 1932. CPB次元官网网址檚 male athlete of the year will be announced Thursday and the team of the year Friday.
In a survey of sports journalists and broadcasters across the country, McIntosh earned 24 votes out of 52 cast.
B次元官网网址淪ummer McIntosh is simply the best and is achieving unbelievable results at an incredibly young age,B次元官网网址� wrote Whitehorse Star sports editor Morris Prokop on his ballot.
Swimmer Maggie Mac Neil, who collected a record five Pan American Games gold medals and a world championship butterfly silver in 2023, ranked second in votes, 12 behind teammate McIntosh.
B次元官网网址淭here is far more to come from Summer over the next number of years,B次元官网网址� Swimming Canada high-performance director John Atkinson said.
B次元官网网址淔antastic recognition for a young lady thatB次元官网网址檚 doing some remarkable things within high-performance sport.
B次元官网网址淪heB次元官网网址檚 in a fantastic position, which is down to her own attitude, her commitment, her passion and great support from parents and family and from her coaches.B次元官网网址�
Previous winners of CPB次元官网网址檚 female athlete of the year include hockey players Marie-Philip Poulin (2022) and Hayley Wickenheiser (2007), tennis players Leylah Fernandez (2021) and Bianca Andreescu (2019), soccer star Christine Sinclair (2020, 2012), golfer Brooke Henderson (2015, 2017, 2018) and swimmer Penny Oleksiak (2016).
Donna Spencer, The Canadian Press
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