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15-Year-Old Rising Star Summer McIntosh Pulls Out of Women’s 800 Free Final

2021 FINA SHORT COURSE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

WOMEN’S 800 FREESTYLE – PRELIMS

  • World Record: 7:59.34 – BELMONTE Mireia (ESP) 10 AUG 2013
  • Championship Record: 8:03.41 – BELMONTE GARCIA Mireia (ESP) 4 DEC 2014
  • World Junior Record: 7:59.44 – WANG Jianjiahe (CHN) 6 OCT 2018

Top 8:

  1. Li Bingjie (CHN) – 8:10.08
  2. Summer McIntosh (CAN) – 8:13.37
  3. Isabel Gose (GER) – 8:13.61
  4. Simona Quadarella (ITA) – 8:14.10
  5. Anastasiia Kirpichnikova (RSF) – 8:14.53
  6. Martina Caramignioli (ITA) – 8:15.01
  7. Katie Grimes (USA) – 8:16.01
  8. Anna Egorova (RSF) – 8:17.03

FINA has published the start lists for the final of the women’s 800 freestyle tonight, and there’s been a notable change. 15-year-old Canadian phenom Summer McIntosh has scratched out of the race. McIntosh posted the 2nd-fastest time in the heats of the 800, clocking an 8:13.37.

Not only was the performance a personal best for McIntosh, she absolutely obliterated one of the oldest Canadian Records. The previous record was held at 8:19.99 from March of 2009, when McIntosh was just 2 years old. On day 1 of the meet, McIntosh placed 5th in the 200 free, swimming a new personal best (1:53.65).

The reason for McIntosh’s scratch is still unknown. On the start list for the 800, FINA simply added a note saying “Summer McIntosh will not swim.” Looking forward, assuming she’ll swim it, McIntosh has one event left on her schedule – the women’s 400 free, which will be swum on Sunday (day 4). She’s the top seed in the 400, but she’ll have a fight on her hands, as she’ll be going up against an on-fire Siobhan Haughey, who’s already broken a World Record at this meet.

With McIntosh out, USA’s Emma Weyant has been brought up to the final. Weyant swam an 8:20.65 in prelims.

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Canswimfan
2 years ago

They may be saving her for the 400 FR and the 4×200 FR relay.

Big Mac #1
2 years ago

Nice of her to let someone else win

ScovaNotiaSwimmer
2 years ago

Guessing her and her coaches just wanted a fresh 800 PB for her, and don’t want to overload her with two many events at this age.
She’s likely decided to really go for it with the 400 Free. Seems like they are conservatively managing her competition workload at this age, which is smart.

There seems to be a lot of prestige/attention since the Phelps era on swimmers who can win/medal at many events during one competition (Phelps, Ledecky, Iron Lady, Dressel, McKeon), but I think it’s ok to be more selective as well, especially with managing pressure/expectations for younger swimmers!

MY MOM!
2 years ago

Where’s Grimes?

Spectatorn
2 years ago

On the start list now saying Katie Grimes also scratched. Emma Wayant in lane 1 and Anja Kesely in lane 8.

“Summer MCINTOSH (CAN) and Katie GRIMES (USA) will not swim. Reseeded after promotion of first and second reserves.”

Alice
2 years ago

What’s with canada. Macneil scratching 2 events so far. Masse dns-ed at 50 fly just now. And now mcintosh too. Or are they opting to focus on relay events?

Ledecky will go 3:55 in Paris
Reply to  Alice
2 years ago

finlay knox is still competing

CY~
2 years ago

McIntosh out of tonight, MacNeil and Masse DNS this morning, covid related?

miwski
Reply to  CY~
2 years ago

Masse competed in 200back
Probably not covid related

SwimmerFan99
2 years ago

Whyyyyyyyyyy

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Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com. He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming. Aside from his life on the InterWet, …

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