Summer McIntosh, the women's star of Paris 2024 Olympic swimming, smashed Australian Olympic champion Ariarne Titmus' World 400m freestyle record with a 3:54.18 stunner at Canadian Trials for the World Championships in Victoria this evening.

Travelling into sub-3:55 waters below the pace of Tim Shaw's pioneering pace for men, 3:54.69, back in 1974, the Canadian three-times Olympic champion and a teenager who turns 20 only next year, practically matched Titmus' top speed from 2023 top the 100m mark, inched ahead of the Australian on the clock at 200m, scurried 1.24sec inside previous pioneering pace at 300m and delivered a bruising 58.53sec finish, her last 100m a match of Shane Gould's 100m World record back 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
• At the 100m: as fast as Kornelia Ender's sixth of 10 World records and first sub-57 for the European title in 1974
• At the 200m: faster than Franzi Van Almisck ever swam over 200m free and as fast as Federica Pellegrini's first 200m World record in 2007

McIntosh reacted with what Swimming Canada described as "an unusual show of emotion from the usually stoic 18-year-old", whose first career World record was delivered in the same event, in 3:56.08, two years ago. Said McIntosh, through the national federation:

“You can see my outburst of emotion because I was really not expecting that time. Just seeing the time, after two years of really pushing my hardest every day and training, not seeing the results. It is just all that energy and anger, blood, sweat and tears built up. Having an amazing swim is just really satisfying.”

McIntosh is the first swimmer in history ever to hold the 400m free and both medley World records simultaneously, and that alongside ownership of the short-course standards in the 400 free, 200 butterfly and 400 medley. Awarded the Northern Star Award as Canada’s athlete of the year for 2024, McIntosh said:

“I knew my training has been really strong these past couple of months. I knew I was able to do something special.” 

Ella Jansen, of Burlington, Ont., also booked a ticket to World titles in Singapore in July, with a 4:07.36 for silver.

The result in Victoria:

The World Record Progression since Janet Evans' Legendary 4:03.85 at the 1988 Olympic Games:

Here's what happened in Paris last year, when McIntosh, coached by Brent Arckey at the Sarasota Sharks in a mentoring team that includes Vern Gambetta, took silver behind Titmus, and Katie Ledecky (USA), the 2016 champion whose last World record was set in 2016 at 3:56.40, a mark downed by Titmus before McIntosh claimed her first 400 free standard, Titmus hit back and, now, McIntosh made lightning stroke twice:

Titmus Is The First To Keep The Crown Since 1928

Ariarne Titmus became the first woman to retain the 400m freestyle crown since American Martha Norelius kept the title in 1928 in a World record four years after setting an Olympic standard for her first triumph

State Of Swimming +Craig Lord

The first celebration after McIntosh's in the pool was posted by Canada's performance head John Atkinson, reflecting the delight that ripples through Canadian swim ranks and beyond with each passing pioneering stroke the Olympic 200m butterfly, 200 and 400m medley champion takes:

McIntosh would have finished fifth in the men's final.

Day 1 Finals CBC Stream in full:

The other finals on Day 1 in Victoria:

Two-time Olympian Mary-Sophie Harvey, of Trois-Rivieres, Que., claimed debut national title in the 200m breaststroke, her 2:23.40 followed by Paris Olympian Sophie Angus, based at the High Performance Centre – Ontario, in 2:24.84. Singapore 2025 Worlds Tickets stamped for both swimmers.

For Harvey, who trains with CAMO in Montreal, victory delivered a career first trials win in the 13 years she has been competing for Canadian selection. She said:

“It’s kind of crazy. I never thought that would be the first one. I’m pretty pleased with how I am feeling in the water right now, considering I’m not fully rested for this week.” 

Kylie Masse, of LaSalle, Ont., an Olympic medallist and world champion, dominated in 58.18 ahead of Taylor Ruck of Kelowna, B.C., in 58.93. 

Masse was faster than her 58.29 at Paris 2024 for fourth last year. Speaking through Swimming Canada, she said:

“I haven’t really processed it but I’m really happy. This year has been different, just taking a little bit of a step back but at the same time still putting in the work. I just feel like I have a different perspective on the sport. I’m really grateful to be here.” 

Ruck posted the third-best 100 back time of her career and her fastest in six years. Both will race in Singapore.

Calgary native Cole Pratt, who trains at the High Performance Centre – Vancouver, had battled through years of injuries in recent years, but the 22-year-old 's 54.27 win landed him a ticket to Singapore and his first national team since 2021.

“That was a really long time coming,” said Pratt, who competed at the Tokyo 2020 Games but missed qualifying for Paris due to shoulder, neck and back injuries.

“Coming back to this was really hard. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to quit every day. I stuck with it and now I’m here.” 

Ethan Ekk, 18 and a Tallahassee, Fla., native whose parents are from Vancouver, booked his first spot on a Canadian senior team in 3:49.57, 0.06sec ahead of Jordi Vilchez of the Barrie Trojans. Both men were inside the secondary consideration time for Singapore, the decision now in the hands of selectors. Said Ekk:

“That was a very hard race, I can’t lie. That last 50 was a battle from all of us. I was aware of them the whole race. It wasn’t until that last 50 I just put my head down and didn’t know where anybody was at. I kind of just closed my eyes and tried to move as fast as I could. I heard the announcer say ‘Ethan Ekk,’ and I was like ‘Yes!’ I was so pumped and excited and I’m so happy to represent Canada.” 

The Meaning of Trials, as stated by Swimming Canada:

The six-day trials, which run through Thursday, have attracted more than 700 swimmers to Saanich Commonwealth Place in Victoria.  Athletes are competing for selection to teams competing at four major international competitions: the World Aquatics Championships July 26 – Aug. 3 in Singapore, the 2025 FISU Games (Summer Universiade) July 17 – 23 in Berlin, the World Aquatics Junior Swimming Championships Aug. 19 – 24 in Otopeni, Romania, and the World Para Swimming Championships Sept. 21–27 in Singapore. 

CBC Gem and the CBS Player  will stream each session beginning at 12:30 p.m. ET/9:30 a.m. PT for heats and 8:30 p.m. ET/5:30 p.m. PT for finals. Every session will also be live on YouTube.

• RESULTS IN FULL