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From Idol To Teammates: McIntosh Watched Oleksiak In 2016, Joins Her In 2021

Summer McIntosh was just nine years old during the 2016 Canadian Olympic Swimming Trials, and remembers watching the breakout performance delivered by Penny Oleksiak prior to her four-medal haul at the Rio Games.

“I was actually at the trials in 2016,” McIntosh told CBC‘s Devin Heroux while at the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre. “At this pool. I was sitting right up there in the west stands. It was so incredible to watch Penny,” she said.

“I was able to come on deck since my mom is part of the alumni and I got a picture with Penny,” McIntosh said, with her mother, Jill, a 1984 Canadian Olympic swimmer. “It was so unreal. It’s crazy to think that was five years ago. It feels like two minutes ago.”

Oleksiak, 16 at the time, went on to win the women’s 100 freestyle at those Olympic Games, and added a silver medal in the 100 butterfly and two bronzes in the 400 and 800 free relays.

That performance thrust Oleksiak into the public eye, something McIntosh has experienced (to a much lesser extent, so far) after what she was able to do at the Canadian Olympic Trials in June.

Just 14, McIntosh beat Oleksiak head-to-head to qualify individually for Tokyo in the women’s 200 freestyle, and went on to win the 800 free as well. The Etobicoke Swimming product is also entered to race the 400 free in Tokyo.

Oleksiak had nothing but praise for McIntosh, lauding her desire to compete.

“I think she’s one of the most resilient swimmers I’ve ever met,” Oleksiak told CBC. “I don’t know what it is but she is a stone-cold killer. That girl doesn’t care about anything, she just wants to train, get in the water and swim fast.

“I love that. I admire that about her. It pushes me in training and I want to be more like her.”

Canadian head coach Ben Titley added that the two swimmers have distinctly different approaches, with McIntosh perhaps a little more intense and Oleksiak more laid back. But ultimately they’re zeroed in on accomplishing the same things.

“The personalities are very different. If you go from a Penny Oleksiak to a Summer McIntosh, they’re two entirely different human beings,” he said. “They have the same goals and aspirations but the way they get there and carry stress are two different things. People just need to be positive, confident and support each other.”

Oleksiak, nominated to the Olympic team earlier in the year in the 200 free by virtue of her sixth-place finish at the 2019 World Championships, announced her presence as a threat to repeat as Olympic champion in the 100 free after putting up a time of 52.89 at the Trials in Toronto. That swim was her fastest since Rio.

“I feel like I have been counted out,” she said. “I’ve been seeing these Olympic projections of finals and stuff like that. And I’m never in it.

“I might not be good right now but if you know me, you know I’m going to be good for the Olympics.”

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Awsi Dooger
3 years ago

I assume McIntosh is the one on the left from that tweet. I say that because the article describes her as a very aggressive personality. It looks that way even from a photo at age 9. She is leaning forward as if she wants to be forward feature in the photo. Also, Oleksiak is so much bigger and stronger now. That really stands out from the 2016 picture.

Teddy
Reply to  Awsi Dooger
3 years ago

Where to start, my goodness

John
Reply to  Awsi Dooger
3 years ago

We’re you not hugged enough as a child?

Texas Tap Water
Reply to  Awsi Dooger
3 years ago

JESUS!

About James Sutherland

James Sutherland

James swam five years at Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario, specializing in the 200 free, back and IM. He finished up his collegiate swimming career in 2018, graduating with a bachelor's degree in economics. In 2019 he completed his graduate degree in sports journalism. Prior to going to Laurentian, James swam …

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