'Once-in-a-generation swimmer': McIntosh breaks Canadian record on opening night of trialsIn the same event she finished fourth in during her Olympic debut at 14 years old in Tokyo, Summer McIntosh broke her own Canadian record in the 400-metre freestyle event at national swimming trials in Victoria on Tuesday.

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15-year-old improved her own mark in 400m freestyle, racing to time of 4:01.59

Devin Heroux · CBC Sports(Matthias Schrader/The Associated Press)comments

Every time 15-year-old Canadian swimming superstar Summer McIntosh hits the water it's a must-see event.

Since last June when she catapulted onto the national scene with her staggering performances at the Olympic trials and followed that up with strong Olympic performances, McIntosh has continued to up the ante by lowering her times in the pool.

And she didn't disappoint on opening night of the national swimming trials at Saanich Commonwealth Place in Victoria.

In the same event she finished fourth in during her Olympic debut at 14 years old in Tokyo, McIntosh broke her own Canadian record in the 400-metre freestyle event Tuesday night.

• Coming UpWatch the 2022 Canadian swimming trials

• McIntosh, Knox break own national records at Canadian swimming trials in Victoria

Her time of 4:01.59 is the third-fastest time in the world this year.

"I'm quite happy with that. Going into the race I didn't really expect a certain time. I didn't really know what I was capable of," McIntosh told CBC Sports after the race.

"I'm pretty happy with that. Dropping some time off my Olympic race."

WATCH l McIntosh breaks own Canadian record in women's 400m freestyle:

15-year-old Summer McIntosh breaks own Canadian record in women's 400m freestyle

1 day agoDuration 9:12Toronto's Summer McIntosh lowered her own Canadian record in the women's 400-metre freestyle event, swimming to a time of 4:01.59 at the 2022 Canadian Swimming Trials in Victoria.9:12

Her record-setting performance comes just a little more than a month after she swam the third-fastest time ever in the 400m IM during an invitational trials prep event at the beginning of March.

This is the trend now — McIntosh is shaving time off each event she competes in at a staggering rate.

Asked if she's surprised by her meteoric ascension in the swimming world, McIntosh shyly suggested she was but then pointed to all the work she's been doing to get to this point.

"In some races I know my training will reflect the performances. I know what I'm capable of after all the hard work I've done," she said.

And she's just getting started at the trials. McIntosh has a busy schedule this week with the 200m freestyle, 200m butterfly and 400m IM events still ahead of her.

"I'm really excited for the rest of my races. I have a pretty big schedule but as long as I take good care of myself and prepare myself well and recover well, I'll hopefully do good," McIntosh said.

'We'll continue to see great things'

Longtime CBC Sports swimming analyst Byron MacDonald was inside Saanich Commonwealth Place Tuesday night for McIntosh's performance and had the highest praise for the phenom from Toronto.

"Summer is a once-in-a-generation swimmer. You don't see this very often and they're very special. And she's going to get better and better and better," MacDonald said.

"You have to remember, she's young. So she's going to improve by getting older and stronger and fitter and better. That's what we're seeing everytime she hits the water. It's unbelievable."

MacDonald says Canadians should get used to seeing these record-setting results from McIntosh for years to come.

"Summer knows where she is in the world. She knows who's ahead of her. She knows who's behind her. She is a very aware young woman and she will challenge herself to be one of the best," he said.

"There's no question we'll continue to see great things."

WATCH l Knox lowers his national record in men's 200m IM:

Finlay Knox lowers his own Canadian record in the 200m I.M.

1 day agoDuration 6:01Finlay Knox of Okotoks, Alta, lowered his own Canadian record in the men's 200-metre individual medley, swimming to a time of 1:57.50 at the 2022 Canadian Swimming Trials in Victoria.Olympic champion Maggie Mac Neil crowned Canada's female swimmer of the year

(editor：)