Canadian Summer McIntosh has broken the women’s 200m butterfly world record, the last remaining record from swimming’s ‘supersuit’ era.
The 19-year-old, competing at the Canadian trials for the Pan Pacific Championships, won in two minutes 1.65 seconds in Montreal to beat the 2:01.81 set by China’s Liu Zige in 2009.
Zige set her record shortly before hi-tech polyurethane supersuits were banned in 2010.
“I’m in shock right now. This means the absolute world,” said three-time Olympic gold medallist McIntosh.
“Growing up, this is the one world record that I thought I would never break.
“To do it tonight is really special in front of a home crowd.
“The last 50 was pure adrenaline. I could hear the crowd going crazy and I knew I was probably under, or close to, world record pace, so that’s really what kept me going.”
McIntosh also holds the world record in the 200m and 400m individual medley and 400m freestyle.
