"More fuel to the fire", said Summer McIntosh as she emerged from a sensational 8:05.07 in the 800m freestyle at Canadian Trials with a national and Commonwealth record at Saanich Commonwealth Place, Victoria.

It's the place where Kieren Perkins broke the 1500m free World record back in 1994 and his coach 'Mr. (John) Carew' met him just off pool deck to ask "what day go and do that for mate?!" Because he could, summed up the swimmer's answer.

There's a time and a place and World titles in Rome were just around the corner. Fast forward to 2025 and we find McIntosh, the star turn in women's swimming at Paris 2024 last year with three solo golds and a silver for Canada, bringing an even more modern Victorian crowd to its feet for a distance dynamo once more.

McIntosh's time axed 5secs off her own standards, comes in at third-fastest performance ever for the second swimmer ever to break 8:10, and fell just 0.95 of a second shy of the world record American legend Katie Ledecky set just last month after a nine-year wait since her last 8:04:

Ledecky’s Legend Grows With 8:04.12 World Record From The Empress Of The League Of Longevity

“There is always a story to each world record that I set. I think tonight is the first one I’ve done when another American has done it. Hats off to Gretchen (Walsh) for getting us rolling this morning and starting a world record party.” - Katie Ledecky

State Of Swimming +Craig Lord

Ledecky's stunning run on the best 23 times in history over 800m is over, and McIntosh, 18 and fresh from crushing the 400m World record yesterday, was already looking to future possibilities:

“I’m always hoping to break records and push the boundaries of sport. I’m always trying to be faster and faster. That just gives me more fuel to the fire.” 

Summer Lightning Strikes Twice: McIntosh Smokes Titmus’ 400m Free WR in 3:54.18

Faster than Tim Shaw 1974; finishing 100m as fast as Shane Gould’s 100m WR in 1972. The WR splits compared: 56.95; 1:56.42; 2:55.65; 3:54.18 McIntosh - Victoria, June 7, 2025; 56.92; 1:56.94; 2:56.90; 3:55.90 Titmus - Fukuoka, July 23, 2023

State Of Swimming +Craig Lord

Will we see fire meet fire at World titles in Singapore this July and August when the women rise to their blocks for the 800m free. We'll find out when McIntosh's coach Brent Arckey has had a chat with swimmer, John Atkinson and Co and Swimming Canada names its team after four more days of racing in Victoria.

NB: Meanwhile, this file marks my last for at least 36 hours: its our 25th wedding anniversary, so, for now, there's other entertainment to be had... with a respectful doff of the cap to McIntosh, Ledecky, the speedy efforts of Ilya Karun and Josh Liendo in the 100 'fly, the day 1 warriors Down Under and all the rest of you, see you later in the week.

Victoria Day 2 finals at a glance:

For quotes and a full report, here''s Swimming Canada:

Kharun wins 100 fly, McIntosh sets Canadian record as Trials continue - Swimming Canada

Two Canadian Olympic medallists went head-to-head in a nail-biting 100-metre butterfly while Summer McIntosh set a Canadian record in the 800-m freestyle Sunday at the Bell Canadian Swimming Trials. Ilya Kharun of Montreal and Josh Liendo of Toronto faced off in the same race that saw them share a podium at the Paris […]

Swimming CanadaSimone Cseplo