Canadian star puts rivals on alert as last women’s ‘supersuit’ record falls
Canada’s Summer McIntosh has sent a clear warning to her rivals by shattering the last women’s “supersuit” world record.
The 19-year-old touched the wall in the women’s 200m butterfly final in 2:01.65 at the national trials on Sunday night (Monday AEST), toppling Li Zige’s long-standing record.
Summer McIntosh in action at the Canadian swimming Trials. Alex Slitz
Zige set the record with a time of 2:01.85 at China’s National Games in 2009, when athletes were still allowed to wear the high-tech, full-body polyurethane swimsuits – often refereed to as supersuits.
Two months after Zige set the record, World Aquatics announced the suits had been banned, amid fears the sport was heading towards being less focused on natural talent and more on the technological advantage of being in the suit.
McIntosh came close to breaking the record on several occasions in recent months but the rest of the field had been at least two seconds away from the mark.
The 19-year-old, whose swim qualified her for the qualify for Canada’s Pan Pacific Championships team, is the only female aside from Zige to break the 2:02.00 mark in the event. McIntosh also holds five of the six fastest times.
Elizabeth Dekkers was the fastest qualifier in the 200m butterfly at Australian Trials in April, touching the wall in 2:05.39.
“As you can see, my emotions, this means the absolute world,” McIntosh told reporters post-race.
“Growing up, this is the one world record I thought I would never break. The past few years especially, I’ve really been wanting to break it.
“I think it’s so fast, so to do it now is really incredible. It means the absolute world.
“I’m in shock right now.”
It is not the first time McIntosh has shattered a world record. She also holds the fastest time in the 200m and 400m individual medleys. At last year’s Canadian trials, she snatched the 400m freestyle world record previously held by Ariarne Titmus.
McIntosh will not be competing at the Commonwealth Games as she is focused on the Pan Pacs, where a wider range of international talent will be competing.
The meet starts on August 12.