2028 Olympic schedule shift creates lineup wrinkle for McIntosh in pursuit of 5 individual gold medals

Summer McIntosh now faces an unforeseen wrinkle in her drive for five individual gold medals at the 2028 Summer Olympics.

Following a transformative shift in scheduling for the next Summer Games announced Wednesday, scheduling conflicts have arisen that will affect the Canadian swimming star’s competition selection.

Arguably the most glaring change comes on the final of nine days of swimming, when the women’s 200-metre butterfly and 800m freestyle have been scheduled back-to-back.

The alteration effectively ends any likelihood of McIntosh pursuing the latter event despite making concrete strides to improve and challenge for gold in Los Angeles.

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The 19-year-old from Toronto is a three-time world champion and reigning Olympic champion in the 200m fly, but logged the second-fastest women’s 800m free time ever (8:05.07) at Canadian trials in June.

“The new order does not put a roadblock up for Summer’s stated goal of vying for five golds in L.A.,” Byron MacDonald, University of Toronto head swimming coach, told CBC Sports.

“What it does do is shift the discussion from ‘What will Summer’s fifth event be — to Summer’s fifth event will almost for sure be the 200 freestyle.’”

McIntosh is all but assured to be competing in the 200m individual medley, 400m IM, 200m fly and 400m free.

“Her other two stated options for the fifth event were the 800 freestyle and the 200 backstroke — both have conflicts with other gold medal event attempts for Summer. With the 800 freestyle an impossible double, back to back with 200 butterfly, so for sure it is off the table,” MacDonald said.

“The 200 backstroke is the same session as the 200 IM, so it would be feasible with over an hour