Summer McIntosh, a 19-year-old swimmer from Toronto, has once again made waves in the pool in 2025. She was awarded The Canadian Press female athlete of the year for the third consecutive year. McIntosh clinched four gold medals at the world championship in Singapore after breaking three world records at national trials.
Her remarkable achievement at the world championship saw her become only the second woman, after American standout Katie Ledecky in 2015, to secure gold in four individual events. Prior to the championship, McIntosh set herself up for success by lowering world records in the 400-meter freestyle and individual medleys, as well as the 200-meter individual medley during the trials in Victoria.
Expressing her confidence, McIntosh openly stated her goal of winning five gold medals in five races in Singapore. Despite narrowly missing her target, she emerged victorious in the 400 and 200 individual medleys, 400 freestyle, and 200 butterfly events, also claiming a bronze in the 800 freestyle.
McIntosh attributed her success to the support she received from Swimming Canada and her fellow Canadians, which kept her motivated throughout her competitions. This support, she mentioned, was instrumental in her achievements and helped her push through challenging times.
The Canadian Press female athlete award, bestowed through a vote by editors, writers, and broadcasters from CP client news organizations nationwide, recognized McIntosh’s stellar performances in 2025. This marked the third consecutive year that McIntosh received the award, becoming only the second woman to achieve this feat after figure skater Barbara Ann Scott from 1946 to 1948.
Having made significant strides in her swimming career, McIntosh made strategic moves in her training regimen. Following her success at the 2024 Paris Olympics, she transitioned her training base from Florida to France under coach Fred Vergnoux, and later relocated to Austin, Texas, to train with renowned coach Bob Bowman alongside elite swimmers like Leon Marchand, Regan Smith, and Simone Manuel.
Despite facing setbacks, such as falling ill in October, McIntosh displayed resilience and bounced back to secure victories at the U.S. Open in December. Looking ahead, with no major championships scheduled for 2026, McIntosh is focused on breaking her own world records and setting new ones in the sport of swimming.