Canadian swimmer Summer McIntosh surpassed a long-standing world record in the 200-meter butterfly on Sunday night at the Canadian trials held in Montreal. The 19-year-old finished the race in 2 minutes 1.65 seconds, breaking the previous record of 2:01.81 set by China’s Liu Zige in 2009 during the era of high-performance “super-suits.”

McIntosh, a three-time Olympic champion from the 2024 Paris Games, visibly celebrated her achievement by slamming her fists into the water and smiling broadly as the spectators at the Olympic pool responded with enthusiasm.

The new record marks a milestone in women’s swimming, especially given that Liu Zige’s mark stood for nearly 17 years. McIntosh had been close to this time before, coming within 0.18 seconds when she posted a 2:01.99 finish at last year’s World Championships.

This accomplishment highlights McIntosh’s continued dominance in the sport and her ability to perform at the highest level under pressure. The Canadian trials performance positions her as a leading contender in upcoming international competitions and further solidifies her status as one of the premier swimmers of her generation.