Summer McIntosh’s quest for five individual gold medals at the 2028 Summer Olympics has hit a snag due to a change in scheduling for the upcoming Games. The alteration has led to conflicts in the timing of events, impacting the Canadian swimming sensation’s choices.
One significant change is the scheduling of the women’s 200-metre butterfly and 800m freestyle events back-to-back on the final day of swimming competition. This adjustment has effectively ruled out McIntosh’s participation in the 800m freestyle, despite her strong performance and potential for success in the event.
McIntosh, a 19-year-old from Toronto and a three-time world champion, holds the second-fastest women’s 800m freestyle time ever recorded at Canadian trials. While the new schedule poses challenges, it does not deter McIntosh from her goal of contending for five gold medals in Los Angeles.
Byron MacDonald, the head swimming coach at the University of Toronto, highlighted that McIntosh is likely to focus on the 200m freestyle as her fifth event, with her participation in the 200m individual medley, 400m IM, 200m fly, and 400m free almost certain.
The schedule adjustment also impacts other potential events for McIntosh, such as the 800m freestyle and the 200 backstroke, which present conflicts with her pursuit of gold in other events. Despite these challenges, McIntosh is gearing up to kick off her Olympic campaign on July 22 with the 400m freestyle final.
Additionally, a significant change in the Summer Games schedule will see track and field, rather than swimming, as the opening event. The LA Coliseum will host the women’s 100 metres on the first day, providing a busy start for the world’s fastest women. This shift aims to accommodate logistical challenges, as the opening ceremony at SoFi Stadium prevents the immediate setup of the swimming pool for the traditional swimming kickoff.
