Canada's McIntosh, Harvey win silver medals to wrap up short course swim worlds
CBC Sports | Posted: December 15, 2024 12:00 PM | Last Updated: December 15
McIntosh also named World Aquatics female swimmer of the year
Canada's Summer McIntosh wrapped up her record-breaking performance at the world short course swim championships with a silver medal in the women's 200-metre backstroke on Sunday in Budapest, Hungary.
McIntosh, 18, finished the race in a time of one minute 59.56 seconds, which is both a Canadian and world junior record.
Regan Smith of the United States needed a new world-record time of 1:58.04 to hold off her Canadian counterpart. Neutral athlete Anastasiya Shkurdai (2:00.56) rounded out the podium in third place.
WATCH | McIntosh takes silver in women's 200m backstroke:
Despite notching a new national record time, McIntosh said she wasn't satisfied with her performance.
"I'm kind of disappointed," she told CBC Sports reporter Devin Heroux. "I really wanted to get gold for Canada tonight, but this is a great motivator the next time I'm training and I'm hurting and I just remember what it's like to get silver, so it keeps me pushing forward."
McIntosh, who was named World Aquatics female swimmer of the year on Sunday, ends her first short course worlds appearance with three world records, three golds, one silver medal and one bronze.
WATCH | McIntosh awarded World Aquatics women's swimmer of year:
The Canadian phenom now owns the women's world-record times in the 400-metre individual medley (4:15.48), 200m butterfly (1:59.32) and the 400m freestyle (3:50.25).
"This week's been overall great, [and] probably one of the best swim meets of my life, even though [the 200m backstroke final] wasn't one of my best races, I should still be happy with it," McIntosh said.
WATCH | McIntosh calls short-course worlds 'one of the best meets of my life':
Harvey wins freestyle silver, named 'breakout' star
Fellow Canadian Mary-Sophie Harvey also captured silver on Sunday, swimming to a second-place finish in the women's 200m freestyle final.
Harvey, of Trois-Rivières, Que., touched the wall in an Americas-record time of 1:51.49, just behind gold medallist Siobhan Haughey of Hong Kong (1:50.62). American Claire Weinstein, 17, took bronze in a world junior record time of 1:51.62.
WATCH | Harvey claims 3rd medal short-course worlds:
"I had some confidence going into this race just because in the relays, I surprised myself getting some speed in the 50 and the 100 free. I knew with my medal in the 400 free that I could have the comeback, I just needed to trust."
Earlier in the day, the 25-year-old Harvey was named the short course breakout female swimmer of the year.
"It's been a crazy year and I've told you how much I want to end a good note, and honestly I couldn't be happier," Harvey said.
WATCH | Harvey reflects on her 'best year ever':
The Canadian men's 4x100m medley relay team finished fifth in the final event of the meet, setting a national record in the process.
Saskatoon's Blake Tierney, Montreal's Ilya Kharun, Calgary's Yuri Kisil, and Finlay Knox, from Okotoks, Alta., combined for a time of 3:21.17.
Canada did not have a women's team in the 4x100m medley relay final. The team of Kylie Masse, Alexanne Lepage, Ingrid Wilm, and Penny Oleksiak were disqualified due to an early takeover.