NANTERRE, France (AP) — Not so way back at her Ontario elementary faculty, Summer time McIntosh and her friends would follow singing the Canadian nationwide anthem in each English and French.

They’d break it down into thirds.

So when she stepped onto the medal stand on the Paris Olympics on Monday night time after successful the 400-meter particular person medley and “Oh Canada” started to play, that’s precisely how the smiling teen sang — a portion in English, adopted by a stretch in French after which English once more.

“I nonetheless keep in mind rising up each single day standing up initially of sophistication singing ‘Oh Canada,’” she fondly recalled of her schoolgirl days. “So now having the ability to do it on the Olympic Video games, it’s fairly surreal.”

McIntosh was an Olympian at 14

It marked a golden second Monday night time for one of many swimming world’s shiny younger stars. Seemingly unfazed and unflappable at simply 17, McIntosh insists her unimaginable calm comes largely from the actual fact “I’ve been doing this since I used to be 14.”

She made her Olympic debut on the delayed Tokyo Video games. McIntosh didn’t medal there, however she already has a silver and a gold just a few years later in France.

McIntosh good points essential expertise every time she leaves the blocks and dives in, and he or she reminds herself to savor the memorable moments.

“I nonetheless really feel like I’m simply my 10-year-old self,” she stated, “and I’m simply attempting to solidify all these desires I had rising up as a child. And I plan on being on this sport for so long as I can do it.”

McIntosh touched in 4 minutes, 27.71 seconds, dominating the sector to seize her first gold within the 400 IM after a 400 freestyle silver Saturday on Day 1 at La Protection Area. Not till the breaststroke leg might she gauge simply how far forward she was of the pack, realizing she had the Olympic title secured.

McIntosh comes from an Olympic household

As soon as McIntosh discovered her household throughout a victory lap, she stopped for an extended group embrace. That included her mom, Jill Horstead, a Canadian swimmer on the 1984 Los Angeles Video games.

“They had been saying how proud they’re of me after all, however I do know it doesn’t matter what my outcome was going into the ultimate tonight they’d have been happy with me it doesn’t matter what,” McIntosh stated. “However simply having the ability to give them a giant group hug, it was very superb.”

What occasions are subsequent for Summer time McIntosh?

McIntosh already made headlines in February along with her 800 freestyle win over embellished American Katie Ledecky at a meet in Orlando, Florida, clocking a Canadian-record 8:11.39. McIntosh then set a world document of 4:24.38 within the 400 IM two months in the past in her hometown of Toronto.

She tries to not put undue stress on herself.

“It’s at all times nearly having enjoyable together with pushing my physique to its limits,” she stated. “So there’s positively lots of anticipation going right into a race, however I wouldn’t say there are essentially nerves and there’s no reduction. I’m simply attempting to absorb each single second I’ve on the Video games.”

The Canadian flag draped round her shoulders and a glowing medal round her neck, McIntosh tried to just do that.

“I simply saved considering to myself to try to savor the second as a lot as attainable as a result of clearly these moments solely come round each 4 years,” she stated. “Simply attempt to make Crew Canada proud and form of set the tone for the remainder of the night time.”

McIntosh could have many extra probabilities to shine — and sing — with Canada and the whole world watching. She is competing within the 200 butterfly, an occasion she received on the world championships in each 2022 and ’23, and the 200 IM.

McIntosh’s teammates and rivals envision nice issues

Kylie Masse, McIntosh’s 28-year-old teammate, cherished the prospect to look at her race.

“It’s unimaginable to see, to have an Olympic medal and to have the success that she’s had already is extremely superb,” Masse stated. “And having been within the sport for plenty of years now I do know the which means of this and the importance of this. And to see her have the ability to simply hold so calm and poised and to proceed to realize nice issues is really an honor.”

That’s the plan for McIntosh.

“Each single time I get to race on the world stage, I study an increasing number of about dealing with mentally and bodily and emotionally and attempting to not get too excessive or too low relying on my race outcomes,” she stated.

McIntosh is influencing the following era of swimmers

Masse can already envision the following wave of Canadian swimmers arising the ranks impressed by the success of McIntosh, who trains in Sarasota, Florida.

The Individuals may sense the magnitude of McIntosh’s affect, with Emma Weyant noting McIntosh works out along with her former Florida membership crew and “continues to do spectacular issues.”

“She means the world,” Masse stated. “She’s an inspiration to everybody and I do know to so many younger swimmers in Canada. To have the ability to see her and see her success right here on the worldwide stage is figuring out for them that they’ll dream huge and proceed to do no matter they put their thoughts to.”

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AP Summer time Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-games