Canadian swimming sensation Summer McIntosh surged through the final 100m to win the second semi-final of the women’s 200m butterfly on Wednesday (30 July), comfortably booking her place in the final.
More significantly, the victory moves the 18-year-old one step closer to a third gold, and potentially five, as she continues her ambitious bid to match the legendary Michael Phelps’ five-gold haul from a single World Championships.
McIntosh has already sealed gold medals in 400m freestyle and 200m individual medley at the 2025 World Aquatics Championships.
McIntosh, who is the second fastest in the history of the 200m butterfly, started slowly but turned on the jets in the second 100m and touched the board first in 2:06.22, ahead of USA’s Regan Smith (2:06.96) and the Republic of Ireland’s Ellen Walshe (2:07.48).
Emily Large (GBR), Ellen Rosendahl Bach (DEN) and Yu Zidi (CHN) also qualified from an extremely fast semi final 2 where six swimmers made the final.
Two swimmers from the first semi final: Elizabeth Deckers (2:06.13), who won the race, and USA’s Caroline Bricker (2:07.86) complete the final line up.