At just 18, a star Canadian swimmer has absolutely exploded onto the global stage, rewriting the record books and stealing the show at the 2024 Paris Olympics. She snagged an incredible three gold medals and a silver, becoming the first Canadian to claim three golds in a single Games. She dominated the 200m butterfly, 400m freestyle, and 400m IM, adding a silver in the 200m freestyle. But perhaps her most audacious feat? She ended Katie Ledecky’s remarkable 14-year unbeaten streak in the 800m freestyle. Training under coach Brent Arckey since 2022, she honed her incredible talent with the Sarasota Sharks in Florida. After achieving this much, what’s next for a talent already chasing legends like Michael Phelps?

Well, Summer McIntosh is making waves with a stunning career move. After the 2025 World Championships in Singapore, she’s leaving her Sarasota training grounds to join forces with Bob Bowman. For those who don’t know, Bowman is the legendary mastermind behind Phelps’ astonishing 23 Olympic golds and Léon Marchand’s four in Paris.

“I know I can fully trust Bob and trust his training, and I know I’m going to an amazing training group. But I also think there’s unknowns when it comes to what that’s going to do with my racing and my potential. I think the sky’s the limit with him. I know he’s going to make me reach my full capacity and potential,” McIntosh told CBC Sports.

Her ambitious goal? To race five individual events at both the 2025 Worlds and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. “Bob having someone like the greatest of all time swimmer Michael Phelps, being able to do all those events is definitely an attraction, and along with Léon as well,” she explained. So, why is this shift a potential game-changer for her already stellar career?

Florida’s swimming community is definitely feeling the sting of McIntosh’s departure. Sarasota was her proving ground, where Arckey helped mold her into a global superstar. Yet, she’s clearly ready for a new chapter. “Some might say it was basically inevitable, but I think now that it’s actually happening, hopefully people will be excited. Bob has been absolutely incredible throughout the whole process, and I knew that at some point I was going to make the move, so his making it so easy and being so welcoming, I’m really excited for next season,” she shared.

In Austin, Texas, she’ll join an elite squad that includes Marchand and Regan Smith, training in a professional environment without NCAA ties. “I think the sky’s the limit with him. I know he’s going to make me reach my full capacity and potential,” she enthused. Can she truly match Phelps’ incredible multi-event mastery under Bowman’s guidance?

As McIntosh sets her sights on a potential five golds at LA 2028, her move to Bowman signals a bold bid for swimming immortality. The entire swimming world is buzzing with anticipation. How far will this young star soar under Bowman’s wing?

Meanwhile, McIntosh is enjoying the coaching with Fred Vergnoux

Well, Summer McIntosh is already a swimming legend, but she’s pushing her limits even further under a new mentor. The Canadian triple Olympic gold medalist has spent most of 2025 training in France with Fred Vergnoux, a coaching mastermind who’s guided swimmers to Olympic golds, hundreds of individual records, and countless podiums.

At the swimming club in Antibes, McIntosh has found a high-octane environment that’s truly fueling her fire. “Fred’s absolutely amazing. He’s so funny and he’s such a smart guy as well,” she said. The competitive vibe at Antibes is electric, and McIntosh is soaking it all in. So, what exactly makes Vergnoux’s coaching approach so special?

Vergnoux’s coaching blends intense training with genuine personal care, creating a culture where excellence isn’t just encouraged—it’s expected. “I can really trust him with my training and the culture he’s created at Antibes,” McIntosh said. “Everyone knows when they get in the water that he’s going to expect your best and we bring that every single day and I think we kind of feed off each other’s energy.” This dynamic has McIntosh absolutely thriving as she prepares for the 2025 World Championships. Can she carry this incredible momentum to dominate in Singapore?