Swimming RecordSummer McIntosh grabs second swimming world record in five days, breaking Katinka Hosszu’s 400m IM markSwimming Record

Fans in Toronto were treated to a masterclass from McIntosh, who touched the wall in 4:25.86, 0.49 seconds faster than Hosszu’s mark set at the Olympic Games Rio 2016 – and nearly three seconds quicker than her own previous personal best world junior record.

The 16-year-old had already broken the 400m freestyle world record on Tuesday, meaning in the span of a week she has scrubbed both Hosszu’s and Ariarne Titmus‘s names off the record books in these events. McIntosh becomes the first person – female or male – to hold world records in both the 400 IM and 400 free (long-course metres).

McIntosh began the race strongly, and found herself ahead of the world-record split through the opening two legs before she fell behind Hosszu’s time on the breaststroke. However, a rapid 29.69 split on the last 50m of freestyle saw the Florida-based McIntosh beat the mark.

“I’ve been hoping to get a world record, especially in the 400 IM, since I was probably 11 years old,” McIntosh said afterwards. “To now actually achieve it is something that kind of blows my mind.”

McIntosh’s official personal best time in the event has now been lowered from 4:34.86 to 4:25.87 in the space of a year. The latest mark is subject to ratification by World Aquatics.

As the reigning world champion in the event, McIntosh is the runaway favourite to retain her title later this year at the World Aquatics Championsips in Fukuoka, Japan, following this performance.