Canada’s Summer McIntosh has put Canada on the podium.
The 17-year-old swim sensation took silver in the women’s 400-metre freestyle on Saturday for Canada’s first medal at the Olympics on Day 1 in Paris.
Ariarne Titmus of Australia, the reigning world champion, won gold in three minutes, 57.49 seconds. McIntosh finished in 3:58.37.
They were well ahead of American star Katie Ledecky, who grabbed bronze in 4:00.86.
“It’s pretty surreal,” McIntosh told Devin Heroux of CBC Olympics after the race. “I really try to stay in the moment and not be foucsed on the past or the future. Going into tonight, that was a goal of mine. Overall, I’m pretty happy with the race. I mean I’m always looking for more. I’m still hungry.”
McIntosh moved up after finishing fourth in this race at last year’s world championships.
“Tried to set the tone as best as possible for Team Canada … Eight more days of races to come and I cannot wait,” McIntosh said.
Titmus and McIntosh were 1-2 for most of the race on Saturday.
McIntosh is Canada’s best bet to win multiple medals at the Olympics. She has three more individual races and could take part in three relays.
McIntosh said racing against people like Ledecky and Titmus at the Olympics was “definitely kind of a pinch-me moment.”
Less than an hour later, McIntosh was back in the pool for the 4×100-metre freestyle relay, mere minutes after receiving her silver medal.
The Canadians, with McIntosh, Maggie Mac Neil, Taylor Ruck and Penny Oleksiak, finished fourth.
Australia won gold, followed by the U.S. and China.
Summer McIntosh, a rising star in Canadian swimming, captured the attention of the world with her impressive performance at the Tokyo Olympics. The 14-year-old swimmer from Toronto made history by winning a silver medal in the 400-metre freestyle event, becoming the youngest Canadian swimmer to ever stand on an Olympic podium.
McIntosh’s journey to the Olympics has been nothing short of remarkable. Despite her young age, she has already established herself as a force to be reckoned with in the world of swimming. Her dedication, hard work, and natural talent have propelled her to the top of her sport, and her silver medal win is a testament to her incredible abilities.
In the 400-metre freestyle final, McIntosh put on a stunning performance, finishing just behind American swimmer Katie Ledecky, who took home the gold. McIntosh’s time of 4 minutes and 2.42 seconds was a personal best and a Canadian record, solidifying her status as one of the top swimmers in the world.
McIntosh’s silver medal win is a historic moment for Canadian swimming, as she becomes the youngest Canadian swimmer to ever win an Olympic medal. Her achievement is a source of inspiration for young athletes across the country, showing that with hard work, determination, and talent, anything is possible.
As McIntosh continues to make waves in the world of swimming, all eyes will be on her as she looks to build on her success and achieve even greater heights in the sport. With her incredible talent and unwavering determination, there is no doubt that McIntosh has a bright future ahead of her in the world of swimming.