Sports
At 17, swimmer Summer McIntosh is ready to be a breakout star at Paris Olympics
Follow our Olympics coverage in the lead-up to the Paris Games.
TORONTO — Summer McIntosh waited before making her entrance.
It was mid-May, the fourth night of the Canadian Olympic and Paralympic Swimming Trials. McIntosh, who swam the first two nights, was ready to race the 400-meter individual medley, an event in which she is already, at age 17, a world-record-holder and a two-time world champion.
“Summer McIntosh!” yelled the public address announcer.
McIntosh stood underneath a replica of the Eiffel Tower at the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre. She was the last swimmer to be called. McIntosh walked to Lane 5, serenaded with roars from the crowd. She adjusted her goggles, putting her hands over the lenses as she stepped onto the starting blocks.
The beep sounded, and McIntosh dove into the pool. Eight lengths. One hundred meters for each stroke: butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke, freestyle.
Ten seconds into the race, McIntosh had the lead. Through 100 meters, she was a body length in front. By the final 50 meters, McIntosh was the only swimmer visible on the broadcast. She was that far ahead of her competition.
The cheers crescendoed as McIntosh swam the finishing length. Her parents, Greg and Jill, stood up and waved their arms.
McIntosh broke her own world record as she touched the wall, posting a 4:24.38, almost a second and a half faster than her previous mark.
The 10 fastest women’s 400m IMs ever
| Rank | Swimmer | Nationality | Time | Year | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
Summer McIntosh |
Canada |
4:24.38 |
2024 |
Canadian Olympic trials |
|
2 |
Summer McIntosh |
Canada |
4:25.87 |
2023 |
Canadian swimming trials |
|
3 |
Katinka Hosszu |
Hungary |
4:26.36 |
2016 |
Rio Olympics (final) |
|
4 |
Summer McIntosh |
Canada |
4:27.11 |
2023 |
World Aquatics championships |
|
5 |
Kaylee McKeown |
Australia |
4:28.22 |
2024 |
Australian national championships |
|
6 |
Shiwen Ye |
China |
4:28.43 |
2012 |
London Olympics |
|
7 |
Katinka Hosszu |
Hungary |
4:28.58 |
2016 |
Rio Olympics (heats) |
|
8 |
Summer McIntosh |
Canada |
4:28.61 |
2022 |
Toyota U.S. Open |
|
9 |
Summer McIntosh |
Canada |
4:29.01 |
2022 |
Commonwealth Games |
|
10 |
Katinka Hosszu |
Hungary |
4:29.33 |
2017 |
FINA world championships |
It was a crowning achievement at an Olympic Trials where, in several instances, she swam the fastest times in the world this year.
This is McIntosh’s stage. Racing in front of energetic crowds. Where she has fun and feels at ease.
“The crowd was absolutely electric,” McIntosh said of the fans during her world-record swim. “I heard all you guys during the breaststroke — it really kept me going.”
In a few weeks, McIntosh will go from swimming in front of an Eiffel Tower replica to the confines of Paris La Défense Arena, home of the swimming events for the 2024 Paris Olympics, eight kilometers from the actual Eiffel Tower.
In the “City of Lights,” the Canadian swimming sensation is ready to shine.
McIntosh has deep swimming roots. Her mom, Jill, swam for Canada at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. McIntosh followed in her mom’s footsteps, swimming competitively starting at 8 years old. Away from the pool, McIntosh drew inspiration from American stars Katie Ledecky and Michael Phelps. In her childhood room, McIntosh hung up posters of Ledecky. She named one of her cats “Mikey” in honor of Phelps. And she watched highlights of Phelps’ historic 2008 Beijing Games, where he won eight gold medals.
Swimming at the Etobicoke Swim Club, McIntosh gained national attention. At 12, McIntosh lowered a 45-year-old Canadian age-group record in the 800-meter freestyle. At 14, she beat Penny Oleksiak, Canada’s most decorated Olympian, in the 200-meter freestyle at the 2020 Canadian Olympic Trials, securing her place on Canada’s team for the Tokyo Olympics.
She didn’t win any medals in Tokyo. But success soon followed.
Two Commonwealth Games gold medals in her first appearance there. Four world championship golds combined in 2022 and 2023. World-record-holder in the 400-meter IM. All by 17 years old.
At Canada’s Olympic trials, 17-year-old Summer McIntosh set a world record in the 400-meter IM. She’ll be a medal contender in five events in Paris. (Andrew Francis Wallace / Toronto Star / Getty Images)
One major reason is McIntosh relocating to Sarasota, Fla., to train with coach Brent Arckey of the Sarasota Sharks. With COVID-19 pandemic restrictions still in Ontario, McIntosh needed a pool to swim full-time.
The Selby Aquatic Center in Sarasota, known as the “Shark Tank,” was the perfect place. Olympic-sized pool. A friendly yet competitive environment. A coach in Arckey, who has experience coaching Olympians.
It’s a regimented training program for McIntosh. Four days a week she swims twice, early morning (6:30 to 8:30 a.m) and late afternoon (3 to 5 p.m.). The wake-ups can be as early as 4:15 a.m.
Dry-land training exercises. Two hours in the pool. Repeat.
This is what it takes to be among the world’s best swimmers. Even on tough days, McIntosh relishes the preparation for Paris.
“Motivation isn’t something that you always have every single day,” McIntosh told The Athletic in November. “It comes in waves. But I always have that discipline to no matter how I feel when I wake up, I get to the pool and I try my hardest.”
The Paris Olympic swimming program opens with a seismic race. The women’s 400-meter freestyle — on July 27, the first full day of events in France — will likely feature a clash between McIntosh, Ledecky and reigning Olympic and world champion Ariarne Titmus.
The last time these three raced together was the 400-meter freestyle at last year’s world championships. Titmus swam to a world record. Ledecky finished second while McIntosh was off the podium in fourth.
WORLD RECORD! 🚨
Australia’s Ariarne Titmus clocks 3:55.38 in the women’s 400m free for the world title and Katie Ledecky grabs the silver.
📺 @peacock | #AQUAFukuoka23 pic.twitter.com/Rm7WyrbQQV
— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) July 23, 2023
It’s from the bad races where McIntosh says she learns and grows. After a conversation with Arckey and a day off from competition, McIntosh responded with four medals the rest of the meet: two gold (200-meter butterfly and 400-meter IM) and two bronze (200-meter free and 4×100-meter medley relay).
McIntosh raced Ledecky, her idol, at the Toyota U.S. Open almost five months after the 2023 worlds, beating the American in the 400 free with a meet-record time. They met again in Orlando last February, where McIntosh ended Ledecky’s 13-year reign in the 800-meter freestyle. Ledecky, who has recorded the 29 fastest 800-meter times in history, hadn’t lost a final in the event since 2010.
At the Canadian Olympic trials, McIntosh won the 400-meter freestyle in 3:59.06. It’s the fastest 400-meter freestyle of 2024, faster than McIntosh’s world-championship run but almost four seconds slower than Titmus’ world record (3:55.38). For most of the race, McIntosh was under the world-record pace. But she was frustrated after, believing she could do better.
“I know I can go faster. I’ve got to keep pushing forward,” McIntosh said.
Arckey sees McIntosh’s 400-meter freestyle result differently. Two months out from Paris, there’s a pathway for improvement.
“You’re not going to be making wholesale changes,” Arckey told The Athletic after trials. “It’s her second fastest time ever and the fastest time in the world currently. She’s hard on her herself. Certainly some things to do better, no doubt. That’s what the good ones do.”
McIntosh trials times vs. last Olympics
| Event | McIntosh at 2024 trials | Gold at Tokyo Games | McIntosh’s time vs. Tokyo field |
|---|---|---|---|
|
200m freestyle |
1:53.69 |
1:53.50 (Ariarne Titmus) |
Silver |
|
400m freestyle |
3:59.06 |
3:56.69 (Titmus) |
Bronze |
|
200m butterfly |
2:04.33 |
2:03.86 (Zhang Yufei) |
Silver |
|
200m medley |
2:07.06 |
2:08.52 (Yui Ohashi) |
Gold |
|
400m medley |
4:24.38 |
4:32.08 (Ohashi) |
Gold |
It’s the end of the Canadian Olympic trials and McIntosh, qualified for the Olympics, is again waiting to be called to the pool deck, joining her Swimming Canada teammates. As she walks out with Arckey, who is also a coach for the Canadian national team, she has a long embrace with her mom.
Jill has been with Summer every step of her young swimming career. And the family will be in Paris watching Summer compete for her first Olympic medals.
After trials, McIntosh travels back to Sarasota to train at the Shark Tank. A couple days of rest and then back to the pool for the final eight-week push.
Arckey said that he and McIntosh will reflect on trials before sharpening the areas to improve for Paris, where the big 400-meter freestyle showdown with Ledecky and Titmus awaits, along with the four other individual events in which McIntosh qualified. After fine-tuning in Sarasota, McIntosh will travel to Normandy for a staging camp with her Swimming Canada teammates. Then the Paris Games.
McIntosh has achieved greatness at international events before. It’s time to do it in Paris, a chance for the Summer Games to be Summer’s games.
“I know I can go faster,” Summer McIntosh says of her 400-meter freestyle. McIntosh, Ariarne Titmus and Katie Ledecky have combined for the 26 fastest-ever times in the event. (Jared C. Tilton / Getty Images)
GO DEEPER
Summer McIntosh, at 17, has everyone’s attention. Now she’s after Olympic glory
(Top illustration: Daniel Goldfarb / The Athletic; photo: Jared C. Tilton / Getty Images)
Sports
‘Demon’ Finn Balor settles score with Dominik Mysterio at WrestleMania 42
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LAS VEGAS – Finn Balor and Dominik Mysterio were once brothers in arms in the Judgment Day. The two helped the faction run “Monday Night Raw” for several years.
As championships and opportunities came and went, the rift between Balor and Mysterio grew. It came to a head when Balor caused Mysterio to lose the Intercontinental Championship to Penta. Balor leaving the Judgment Day left Mysterio and Liv Morgan as the leaders with JD McDonagh, Raquel Rodriguez and Roxanne Perez sticking around.
Finn Balor is introduced before his match against Dominik Mysterio during WrestleMania 42 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nev., on April 19, 2026. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
The latter four chose to ride with Mysterio and attacked Balor on one episode of Raw.
The bitter war led to a match Sunday night at WrestleMania 42. To make matters more interesting, Raw General Manager Adam Pearce made the match a street fight hours before the show was set to begin.
Balor had vowed to bring the “Demon” out and he certainly did.
JACOB FATU PUTS DREW MCINTYRE IN THE ‘REAR VIEW’ IN UNSANCTIONED MATCH AT WRESTLEMANIA 42
Finn Balor is introduced before his match against Dominik Mysterio during WrestleMania 42 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nev., on April 19, 2026. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Balor made his way to the ring in his “Demon” gear, dripping with red and black paint. Mysterio was in a mask with other Mysterio supporters.
The two then proceeded to beat the crud out of each other.
Mysterio wrapped Balor’s head in between a chair and hit a 619 on him. He tried to pin Balor, but to no avail. At another point, Mysterio tossed Balor through a table set up in the corner.
As many have learned, it’s hard to keep your demons down. Mysterio learned the hard way.
Balor would not give up. Balor clotheslined Mysterio, hit him with a chair multiple times before wrapping his head in between the chair and drop-kicking him into the corner. Balor put Mysterio onto a table and hit the Coup de Grâce for the win.
Dominik Mysterio is introduced before his match against Finn Balor during WrestleMania 42 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nev., on April 19, 2026. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
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Balor excised his own demons, while Mysterio is still haunted.
Sports
Ryan Ward has a solid debut, but bullpen blows it again as Dodgers lose to Rockies
DENVER — What do you know? The once-stampeding Dodgers have been caged by the Colorado Rockies.
With a 9-6 loss Sunday at Coors Field, the two-time defending World Series champions lost back-to-back games for the first time this season. The Dodgers again couldn’t hold a lead, letting the Rockies tee off for 15 hits.
Nor could the Dodgers keep up offensively at the hitter-friendly park — though they put some pressure on in the ninth inning, when Shohei Ohtani led off with a ground-rule double and the Dodgers scored twice to cut the lead to three runs. Then the new guy, Ryan Ward, made the final out in his big league debut, robbed of a hit and a chance to keep chipping away by a diving Troy Johnston in right field.
Before that, the Rockies — who beat the Dodgers twice in 13 meetings all of last season — chased starter Roki Sasaki from the game in the fifth inning and then ruffled the Dodgers’ relievers. That included closer Edwin Díaz, who came on in the eighth and promptly gave up three singles, a walk and two runs before being pulled with the Dodgers trailing 8-4.
Dodgers starting pitcher Roki Sasaki gave up three runs on seven hits in 4-2/3 innings Sunday against the Rockies in Denver.
(David Zalubowski / Associated Press)
He and Blake Treinen combined to face eight batters without getting an out.
“They both weren’t sharp,” said manager Dave Roberts, who had theories but not many answers — though he did have real concern, especially about Díaz, who recently had his right knee checked out by the medical staff.
Roberts said the closer wanted to pitch after nine days off, even though it wasn’t a save situation. But his velocity was slightly down (95.4 mph vs. 95.8) and so, “today was a tough evaluation,” the manager said.
“It really was,” Roberts said. “Because, you know, I know what it’s supposed to look like, and when it doesn’t look like that, it gets a little concerning, really.”
And losing for the second time to the Rockies, who are now 9-13? Being in danger of losing their four-game series, after arriving in Denver without having lost to a National League opponent, against a club that hasn’t made the postseason since 2018?
It’s well below the bar the Dodgers have set, and it added a bitter note to Ward’s otherwise sweet debut.
Ward punched a big league clock for the first time wearing No. 67 and cranked his first hit off Rockies starter Michael Lorenzen in the fourth inning, lining a changeup to right field for a single that scored Andy Pages, made it 3-0 and got the 20-some members of Ward’s party up, jumping in place, hugging and high-fiving.
“When I was on first base, I got to see them all jumping around up there,” Ward said. “That was a pretty special moment.”
He also singled in the sixth and swung on the first pitch in his first at-bat, a fly out in the third inning.
The Dodgers gave Sasaki a 2-0 lead in the third. Alex Freeland drove in Hyeseong Kim, and Shohei Ohtani doubled in Freeland — and extended his career-best on-base streak to 51 games, moving past Willie Keeler into third place in Dodgers history.
Sasaki went 4-2/3 innings, threw 78 pitches and gave up three runs on seven hits, striking out two and walking two. His ERA after his fourth start: 6.11, worst in the six-man rotation.
The Dodgers fell behind 6-5 in the seventh when Treinen — who was cleared Friday after he was struck in the head by a batted ball during batting practice — gave up four consecutive hits, including a two-run home run by Mickey Moniak.
The result likely will be a minor detail when Ward tells the story years from now about getting the call after first baseman Freddie Freeman was placed on the paternity list.
The Dodgers’ No. 19 prospect and reigning Pacific Coast League MVP spent the last seven years in the minors. Last season, he hit 36 home runs and drove in 122 runs with a .937 on-base-plus-slugging percentage for triple-A Oklahoma City, and he has a 1.020 OPS and four homers this year.
Ward made it a point to improve his chase rate, draw more walks and get on base more frequently, everything the Dodgers asked of him. He also passed the broadest patience test.
“The plate discipline, being a better hitter … he’s done all that,” Roberts said. “He’s improved his defense. But honestly, for me, just not to let his lack of opportunity in the big leagues deter him. That’s easy when you get frustrated and let it affect performance, and he hasn’t done that.”
If anything, Ward said, the waiting made him better.
“I used it to keep going. ‘OK, if I’m not there yet, what do I have to do to get there?’” he said. “‘What part of my game do I need to work on to keep getting better?’
“I used it as fire to keep working.”
That will be the Dodgers’ assignment too.
In the finale of the four-game series Monday, the Dodgers are expected to start left-hander Justin Wrobleski (2-0, 2.12) against Colorado left-hander Jose Quintana (0-1, 5.63).
Sports
ESPN’s Stephen A Smith hears boos from WrestleMania 42 crowd
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LAS VEGAS – Danhausen’s curse may be real after all – just ask Stephen A. Smith and the New York Mets.
While the latter dropped their 10th game in a row, Smith got his share of the curse on Saturday night during Night 1 of WrestleMania 42. Smith was in attendance for WWE’s premier event of the year and heard massive boos from the crowd.
Stephen A. Smith attends WrestleMania 42: Night 1 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada, on April 18, 2026. (Andrew Timms/WWE)
Smith was sitting ringside to watch the action. The ESPN star appeared on the videoboard above the ring at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. He appeared to embrace the reaction and smiled through it.
The boos came after Danhausen appeared on “First Take” on Friday – much to the chagrin of the sports pundit. Smith appeared perplexed by Danhausen’s appearance. Smith said he heard about Danhausen and called him a “bad luck charm.”
Danhausen said Smith had been “rude” to him and put the dreaded “curse” on the commentator.
WWE STAR DANHAUSEN SAYS METS ‘CURSE’ ISN’T EXACTLY LIFTED AS TEAM DROPS NINTH STRAIGHT GAME
Stephen A. Smith attends WrestleMania 42: Night 1 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada, on April 18, 2026. (Andrew Timms/WWE)
Smith is far from the only one dealing with the effects of the “curse.”
Danhausen agreed to “un-curse” the Mets during their losing streak. However, he told Fox News Digital earlier this week that there was a reason why the curse’s removal didn’t take full effect.
“I did un-curse the Mets. But it didn’t work because, I believe it was Brian Gewirtz who did not pay Danhausen. He did not send me my money so it did not take full effect,” Danhausen said. “Once I have the money, perhaps it will actually work because right now it’s probably about a half of an un-cursing. It’s like a layaway situation.”
Danhausen enters the arena before his match against Kit Wilson during SmackDown at SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on April 10, 2026. (Eakin Howard/Getty Images)
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On “Friday Night SmackDown,” WWE stars like The Miz and Kit Wilson were also targets of Danhausen’s curse.
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