For the third year in a row, Toronto's swimming sensation Summer McIntosh has been crowned The Canadian Press female athlete of the year. The 19-year-old phenom dominated the pool in 2025, a year defined by world records and global championship glory, solidifying her status as one of Canada's most formidable athletic talents.
A Year of Record-Breaking Dominance
The foundation for McIntosh's stellar year was laid in June at the national trials in Victoria. There, she sent shockwaves through the swimming world by shattering three world records in the 400-metre freestyle, 400-metre individual medley, and 200-metre individual medley. This incredible performance set the stage for the world championships in Singapore.
At the global meet, McIntosh translated that promise into pure gold. She triumphed in four individual events: the 400m and 200m individual medleys, the 400m freestyle, and the 200m butterfly. This feat made her only the second woman in history, after American legend Katie Ledecky in 2015, to win four individual gold medals at a single world championship. She narrowly missed a perfect five-for-five, capturing bronze in the 800m freestyle behind Ledecky.
"Any time I get in the water, and I do a race, I'm trying to win," McIntosh stated, reflecting on her ambitious goals. "Saying it out loud also makes me realize it more and also makes it feel more real for me."
Historic Recognition and Future Ambitions
The annual CP awards are decided by a vote of editors, writers, and broadcasters from news organizations across Canada. McIntosh's 2025 campaign was the overwhelming choice, earning her 34 of 53 votes. She finished ahead of rugby player Sophie de Goede, tennis player Victoria Mboko, and cyclist Magdeleine Vallieres.
This three-peat places McIntosh in rare company. She is only the second woman to win the award three years consecutively, following figure skater Barbara Ann Scott from 1946 to 1948. Other legends like golfer Marlene Streit have won five times, but not in successive years.
The year was not without its challenges. Following her post-Paris Olympics move to train in France with coach Fred Vergnoux, and later to Austin, Texas, to join Bob Bowman's elite group, McIntosh faced a significant health setback. An undiagnosed illness in October led to a spinal tap and a week of bed rest, forcing her to miss the World Cup circuit, including a stop in her hometown of Toronto.
She rebounded powerfully by December, however, winning the 400m freestyle at the U.S. Open in the second-fastest time ever, trailing only her own world record.
Training with Legends and Eyes on New Records
In Austin, McIntosh now trains alongside some of the sport's biggest names, including French Olympic champion Leon Marchand and American stars Regan Smith and Simone Manuel. "To have people this fast on the men's and women's side to push me every single day, there's nothing like it really," she said.
With no Olympic Games or world championships in 2026, McIntosh's focus has shifted inward. Her goal is straightforward yet daunting: to break her own records. "I'm really just focused on seeing if I can lower my own world records and break some new ones as well," she declared.
Reflecting on the support from home, which fuelled her through a demanding year of training and competition, McIntosh added, "It keeps me motivated... knowing that Canada is behind you and supporting you." As she looks ahead, the champion swimmer remains driven by the pursuit of excellence and the desire to continue making history for Canada.
