17-year-old swimmer Summer McIntosh named Canadian Press female athlete of the year
Global News
Summer McIntosh, a 17-year-old swimming phenom, has been named female athlete of the year by The Canadian Press after defending her world titles in Japan.
Summer McIntosh’s continued assault on the international swimming podium in 2023 made her The Canadian Press female athlete of the year.
“I’m very honoured to have it and it’s just really cool,” 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.
“What I’m most proud of is just how much I’ve learned about myself and kind of how much I’ve gained from each experience,” McIntosh said.
“Going into big meets like a world championship, I don’t 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.”
After placing fourth in the 400-metre freestyle in Fukuoka in her first race – she was a silver medalist in 2022-McIntosh rallied with a bronze in the 200 free before climbing to the top of the podium in her next two races.
“I needed to learn how to get back up just after a race that I wasn’t happy with,” she said.
