Summer McIntosh wins CP female athlete of year in overwhelming vote

No explanation required was the consensus among voters for The Canadian Press award for 2024 female athlete of the year.

During the month before her 18th birthday, Summer McIntosh became the first Canadian to win three gold medals in a single Olympic Games, winter or summer, with a silver medal thrown in for good measure.

McIntosh was the overwhelming choice among sports editors, producers and reporters across Canada because of the Toronto swimmer's electric performance in Paris. She was selected on 52 of the 53 votes cast, with the other vote going to skeleton world champion Hallie Clarke of Brighton, Ont.

"Three golds at the Olympics. No other reason needed," wrote TSN managing producer Jamie Bell.

The Canadian Press began recognizing male and female athletes of the year in 1932. McIntosh was a repeat winner after also earning the distinction in 2023.

"It's always an honour, but to do it for a second year in a row is pretty incredible to be recognized like this," McIntosh said.

Previous winners include hockey players Marie-Philip Poulin (2022) and Hayley Wickenheiser (2007), tennis players Leylah Fernandez (2021) and Bianca Andreescu (2019), soccer star Christine Sinclair (2020, 2012), golfer Brooke Henderson (2015, 2017, 2018) and swimmer Penny Oleksiak (2016).

WATCH | McIntosh learns she won Northern Star Award via phone call in Budapest:

Watch the moment Summer McIntosh gets the call that she's been named Canadian Athlete of the Year

McIntosh arrived in Paris with an ambitious program. Including heats, semifinals and relays, the Canadian raced 13 times over nine days at La Defense Arena.

Ascending the podium four times — three times to hear O Canada — was a feat of mind and body planning and management.

"Just