Irvine, California: Swimming superstar Summer McIntosh says she’s out to break the 200m freestyle world record held by Australia’s Ariarne Titmus at this week’s Pan Pacific Championships in California, a feat that would put the Canadian alongside Australian legend Shane Gould in the record books.

The world’s best female swimmer, who claimed three individual gold medals at the 2024 Paris Olympics, arrives in Irvine as the star attraction ahead of four days of racing, starting on Wednesday (Thursday morning AEST), against the best swimmers from Australia, the United States and other non-European nations.

While Australia will be without several of its biggest names, including Mollie O’Callaghan, Kaylee McKeown and Cam McEvoy, McIntosh skipped the recent Commonwealth Games to ensure she was peaking for the Pan Pacs, which haven’t been held since 2018.

The 19-year-old won’t contest the 800m freestyle against Australia’s Lani Pallister and US great Katie Ledecky, but has entered five events in Irvine: the 200m freestyle, 400m freestyle, 200m butterfly and both individual medleys.

McIntosh owns the world record in every event she is racing this week except the 200m freestyle, which belongs to Titmus after her narrow victory over O’Callaghan in a time of 1:52.23 at Australia’s Olympic trials in 2024.

It is an event McIntosh has pushed down her list of priorities in recent years. She took bronze behind O’Callaghan and Titmus at the 2023 world championships in 1:53.65 – which remains her personal best – but did not contest it at the Paris Olympics or last year’s world championships due to a large program.

With Titmus retired and O’Callaghan nursing a back issue, McIntosh is eager to make an early statement in Irvine, with finals on day one starting at midday AEST (Thursday).

“Day one for the 200m freestyle I think I will be the most hyped up for because I haven’t raced that internationally in a long time,” McIntosh said. “I think that will be the most interesting. Day one will be a great way to start off the meet.

“I’m always trying to go to best times, whether that’s a world record that I already have or a world record that I don’t have. The 200m freestyle world record is probably one of the toughest world records in the books.

“Seeing Josh [Liendo] and Kylie [Masse] and all those [Canadian] guys do their thing [at Commonwealth Games] definitely got me hyped up and motivated heading into Pan Pacs. I’m feeling really good heading into this competition.”

Swimming world records held by Summer McIntosh (longcourse)

• 200m butterfly:2:01.65 — Montreal, Canada, July 2026
• 400m freestyle:3:54.18 — Victoria, Canada, June 2025
• 200m individual medley:2:05.70 — Victoria, Canada, June 2025
• 400m individual medley:4:23.65 — Victoria, Canada, June 2025

O’Callaghan is the reigning Olympic and world champion in the 200m freestyle but faces a battle to retain her supremacy now McIntosh is turning her attention back to the event.

Asked about O’Callaghan’s absence, McIntosh said: “It’s very tough to see that she’s injured and that sucks. I’m sure she’s very frustrated. I hope she makes a speedy recovery. She’s an amazing athlete … and I’m excited for when she gets back.”

Titmus beat McIntosh in the 400m freestyle final at the Paris Olympics two years but lost her world record in the event to the Canadian last year.

If McIntosh can break Titmus’ 200m mark on Wednesday (Thursday AEST), she will hold five individual longcourse world records simultaneously.

Gould, Kornelia Ender and Michael Phelps are the only other swimmers to have managed such a feat. In 1972, Gould held every women’s freestyle world record from 100m to 1500m at the same time.

McIntosh is now trained by Bob Bowman, who coached Phelps to become the most decorated Olympian in history and also oversees French great Leon Marchand. Bowman has already drawn comparisons between McIntosh and Phelps.

“Hearing that is very flattering,” McIntosh said of the comparisons. “Michael Phelps is the greatest swimmer of all time and definitely my idol. Hearing [Bowman] even remotely compare us is pretty crazy and very flattering. I take great pride in that.

“We go fast every single day. There are no days off with him. There’s no recovery practices.”

McIntosh’s program for the Los Angeles Olympics in two years has already become a source of great intrigue in the swimming world, particularly because the 200m butterfly and 800m freestyle clash on the final day of competition.

However, Pallister can breathe a sigh of relief, with McIntosh admitting it was unlikely she would contest the 800m freestyle in LA – an event in which Ledecky will be chasing an extraordinary fifth consecutive Olympic gold medal.

“There’s lots of options. There’s six or seven events I could do. I’m keeping it open right now,” McIntosh said. “Most likely no [for the 800m freestyle]. The 200 fly is that day, so that’s my favourite event and I’ll be doing that.

“[On the flight to the USA] I hadn’t opened the window during the whole plane ride. As we’re about to land, I see SoFi Stadium and I got full-body chills just imaging two years from now where I am going to be. I honestly can’t wait for it.”