Summer McIntosh is First Swimmer Since Sarah Sjostrom to Own Four World Records Simultaneously
When Summer McIntosh broke the world record in the 200-meter butterfly at the Canadian Trials on Sunday night, the 19-year-old increased her total of global standards to four. McIntosh now owns world records in the 400 freestyle, 200 butterfly, 200 individual medley and 400 individual medley, making her the first female swimmer to simultaneously hold four world records since Swedish star Sarah Sjostrom.
From 2017 through 2024, Sjostrom was the world-record holder in the 50 freestyle, 100 freestyle, 50 butterfly and 100 fly. The first of those marks to fall was the 100 fly, as American Gretchen Walsh went 55.18 in the semifinals of the event at the 2024 United States Olympic Trials in Indianapolis. In recent weeks, Sjostrom has watched her world-record total dwindle to one, thanks to Kate Douglass breaking her record in the 50 freestyle and Marrit Steenbergen lowering her standard in the 100 freestyle. Douglass’ record endured only nine days, with Walsh beating it.
In addition to her quartet of world records, McIntosh (8:05.07) is the No. 2 performer in history in the 800 freestyle, sitting behind only Katie Ledecky (8:04.12). Perhaps most astounding about her world-record status is the margin between McIntosh and her closest pursuers. While she holds a .16 edge over Liu in the 200 fly, McIntosh’s margin in the 400 freestyle is 1.20 seconds over Aussie Ariarne Titmus, 3:54.18 to 3:55.38.
Further, McIntosh’s world record of 2:05.70 in the 200 medley is .42 clear of Katinka Hosszu (2:06.12) and her mark in the 400 IM (4:23.65) is nearly three seconds faster than Hosszu (4:26.36).
Historically, only Shane Gould, Kornelia Ender and Michael Phelps have held five long-course world records at once.
