Canadian swimming prodigy Summer McIntosh, just 17 years old, is already a four-time World Championships gold medallist and a favorite for the Paris Olympics. Her exceptional talent was evident from a young age, as her father Greg McIntosh recalls her beating older swimmers by a significant margin even when she was just seven or eight.

McIntosh's impressive achievements include winning gold in the 200m butterfly and 400m medley at the 2022 Budapest World Championships and repeating the feat in 2023 in Fukuoka. Recently, she set a new world record in the 400-meter medley during the Canadian Olympic trials, showcasing her continued dominance in the sport.

Training rigorously in Florida, McIntosh dedicates six days a week to swimming, starting her sessions at 4:00 a.m. Her family is deeply rooted in sports, with her mother Jill competing in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics and her sister Brooke excelling in pairs figure skating. Despite living apart to focus on their respective sports, the family remains close-knit, managing their commitments through a detailed calendar.

Summer's early coach, Lindsay Watt, and her primary school teacher, Valerie Flynn, both recognized her exceptional drive and determination. Watt describes her mentality as a fortress, and Flynn remembers her constant focus on swimming, even in her school journal.

The Paris Olympics will mark McIntosh's second Games, having competed in Tokyo in 2021 as the youngest Canadian athlete in Olympic history. In Paris, she is poised to challenge and possibly dethrone American swimming legend Katie Ledecky, a seven-time Olympic champion, whom McIntosh has already beaten in recent competitions in the 400m and 800m freestyle events.