What Can Summer McIntosh Produce in the 200 Freestyle? The Potential is Intriguing
We know what Summer McIntosh can do in the 400-meter individual medley. We’ve seen her talent on full display in the 200 medley. She has dazzled in the 400 freestyle and 200 butterfly, along with the 800 freestyle. Yet, while the Canadian teenager ranks as the No. 5 performer in the history of the 200 freestyle, we actually haven’t witnessed her full potential in that event.
At last week’s Fort Lauderdale Open, McIntosh earned a pair of victories in the 200 freestyle and 400 freestyle, the longer discipline featuring a down-to-the-touch triumph over Katie Ledecky. But the most impressive time from the 19-year-old was her 1:54.36 in the 200 free, which was good for the seventh-fastest mark of her career. McIntosh attacked the front half of the race, turning just off world-record pace at the halfway point.
Because of her versatility and range, there are questions concerning McIntosh’s program for this summer’s Pan Pacific Championships at the William Woollett Aquatic Center in Southern California. McIntosh can go in any number of directions at her primary meet of the year, and what she ultimately decides will come down to discussions between the multi-time Olympic champion and her coach, Bob Bowman.
If McIntosh chooses to contest the 200 freestyle at Pan Pacs, the world record of Ariarne Titmus (1:52.23) should be in jeopardy. Her personal best sits at 1:53.65, which is the world junior record. But that time was recorded at the 2023 World Championships in Fukuoka, where the Canadian was the bronze medalist in the 200 free behind the Australian tandem of Mollie O’Callaghan and Titmus.
In the nearly three years since McIntosh registered her personal best, she has elevated her performances on an all-around basis. She is nearly two seconds faster in the 400 freestyle and a little more than two seconds quicker in the 400 IM. Additionally, McIntosh is more than a second swifter in the 200 medley and has improved in the 200 butterfly by more than two seconds. Consequently, it isn’t difficult to extrapolate that McIntosh – in peak form – would be significantly faster in the 200 freestyle.
If McIntosh does not include the 200 freestyle as part of her individual Pan Pacs program, she could still race the event as part of Canada’s 800 freestyle relay. Meanwhile, the potential exists for McIntosh to duel with O’Callaghan, a head-to-head battle that could push the athletes to never-before-seen speed.
The presence of Summer McIntosh as a headliner in the sport offers countless possibilities. She frequently treats fans to riveting performances, and her vast potential in the 200 freestyle offers inarguable intrigue. Perhaps this summer, we’ll see what McIntosh can do over four laps of freestyle. And once we have that answer, we can start asking about the 200 backstroke!
