Summer McIntosh smashes women's 400m freestyle world record at Canadian swim trials

Canadian Summer McIntosh smashed the women's 400-metre freestyle world record Saturday night, touching the wall in three minutes 54.18 seconds at the national swimming trials in Victoria.

McIntosh eclipsed the mark set by Australia's Ariarne Titmus (3:55.38) in 2023 at the world championships in Fukuoka, Japan. She beat the other swimmers by more than 13 seconds.

McIntosh celebrated her fourth career long-course world record by slapping the water twice with her right hand then pumping her fist.

It was an unusual show of emotion from the usually stoic 18-year-old.

"Going into tonight I knew that my training had been strong the past couple months and I knew I was able to do something special, but I did not think I would be that fast," McIntosh, who shaved the record by 1.20 seconds, told  CBC's Devin Heroux.

WATCH | McIntosh demolishes world record in 3:54.18:

Summer McIntosh demolishes world record in 400m freestyle at Canadian swimming trials

Ella Jansen of Burlington, Ont., finished second in 4:07.36, under the World Aquatics qualifying time of 4:10.23, and enough to be selected to Team Canada for the July 26-Aug. 3 World Aquatics Championships in Singapore.

The 400 free was her first-ever world record when she swam 3:56.08 at the 2023 Canadian trials, but Titmus lowered the mark to 3:55.38 at world championships later that year. McIntosh finished behind Titmus for silver at last summer's Paris Olympics to go with the gold medals she won in the 200 and 400 individual medley and 200 butterfly. 

She also holds the 400 IM world record, plus the 400 free, 200 butterfly and 400 IM in the short course pool.

After becoming the first women ever to swim under 3:55.00, the world-record performance even surprised the