Paris 2024 Olympics: Summer McIntosh exclusive: Competing with a smile
Summer McIntosh has been calm, collected, and smiling in the run up to the Olympic Games at Paris 2024, which is impressive given how much expectation sits on her young shoulders.
Despite being just 17, the Canadian prodigy has become a double world champion in both the 200m butterfly and 400m IM in the last Olympic cycle. As the World Record holder in the latter, McIntosh is the heavy gold medal favourite, and could leave France with four individual medals.
There will be no time for warm-ups either, with a likely Day One final in the 400 free that could also involve Olympic champion Ariarne Titmus (who took the 400 free World Record off McIntosh last year), and USA legend Katie Ledecky. It simply doesn't get bigger than that in the world of swimming.
It’s a world away from her debut Olympic appearance at Tokyo 2020, where she finished fourth in the 400 freestyle as something of an unknown quantity. But just like in Japan, McIntosh is keeping everything in perspective, and not getting overawed.
“I think pressure is a thing that kind of comes with any sport and comes just with day to day life, no matter if you're an athlete or not. And the way you deal with it is super, super important,” Toronto native McIntosh told Olympics.com.
“Going to the Games, I'll just deal with it just like any other meet. The pool isn’t 55m, it’s still 50m long. And I train as hard as I can every single day to execute as best as possible. So that's all I can really do in the end. And along with enjoying the process and having fun with it, and just doing my best in all my races is really what I'm focusing on, and keeping all the outside noise on the outside.
*“*I kind of just kind of go with the flow and always just thinking about ways I can improve myself, because that's all I can really control.”
Summer McIntosh on why she loves 'the daily grind'
Environment plays a huge factor in McIntosh’s calm demeanour.
Her move to the Sarasota Sharks club in Florida in 2022 was a masterstroke, paving the way for her unbelievable success on the international stage.
This was due to a combination of first-class coaching headed up by Brent Arckey, and an environment that pushed McIntosh to her limits while still maintaining a sense of enjoyment.
“It’s been absolutely incredible with Brent and all the assistant and dryland coaches. I settled so quickly because I met so many amazing lifelong friends and teammates. Being able to train there every day alongside them has been awesome and really keeps me going,” McIntosh continued.
“For me, the most challenging aspect of being an elite swimmer is just the day-to-day grind. But we all kind of lift each other up and keep each other motivated, so we have fun while doing it. I always say you swim your fastest when you're the happiest and I think that’s the key for athletes reaching their potential. I'm just trying to surround myself with people that bring me up, and just being a positive person to be around.”
McIntosh’s great counsel doesn’t end there.
While Coach Arckey ensures that she follows a world class training programme, her mother Jill, who was also an Olympic swimmer, provides an invaluable source of wisdom, emotional support, and culinary skill.
“My mom is the absolute best, and I think she just gets swimming on such a higher level than most other parents because she did it herself at such a high level, within the same sport and within the same events as me,” McIntosh said with a smile.
“On a day to day basis, she's always cooking and cleaning and helping me through training because I'm always eating just to get enough calories in!
“She is always there to support me if I have a bad race or a bad practice, she just gets it on in such a next level that really, I always appreciate it and really never take it for granted.”
Canada has produced some of the world’s best swimmers over the years, but their Paris 2022 squad is a particularly exciting group.
While McIntosh is undoubtedly the headline act, it will suit her down to the ground not to be the only athlete in the spotlight.
Her teammates will include sprint star-in-the-making Josh Liendo - who is a medal threat in three events - and reigning men’s 200 IM world champion Finlay Knox.
At the other end of the scale, Olympic champions Penny Oleksiak and Maggie Mac Neil combine with four-time Olympic medallist Kylie Masse to provide a well-balanced team that could go very well in the relays.
“I think within the Canadian team, everyone is a leader in their own ways, to be honest. Whether it's more of a silent way or more of a loud way. When I was 14, I was really just following people along and learning what people at the top do, like their routines and things like that. And I still do that, along with carrying with me all the things that I've already learned,” McIntosh continued.
Summer Mcintosh of Team Canada competes in the Women's 400m Individual Medley Final at the Fukuoka 2023 World Aquatics Championships in Japan.
“I think I've grown so much as a person and a swimmer these past few years, just because I've had so many amazing experiences in and out of swimming when it comes to being able to travel the world with my teammates, going through high school and meeting so many new people, and moving down to Florida.
“I’ve become more mature and I’m well-versed in experiences, and how to manage the day-to-day training along with big meets and being able to compete at the world stage and being able to manage all the things that come with that as well as possible.”
McIntosh’s busy Olympic schedule begins on Day 1 in the 400 freestyle, which could well set the tone for the rest of her performances.
While nothing is a guarantee on the Olympic stage, you can be sure that the Canadian star will be competing with a smile, knowing that she has done everything she can to ensure success.