Summer McIntosh Opens Up: World Records, The Ledecky Handshake, and Life Under Bob Bowman

GMM by @SwimOutletGear @SwimOutletTV
Today on the GMM Podcast we have swimming superstar Summer McIntosh. She talked a little over an hour and nothing was off-limits. Before we hit record, she said, “Go for it. I’m ready to discuss anything.”

We caught up during her three-week altitude block at the U.S. Olympic Training Center, where she’s working under new coach, Bob Bowman. And, of course, she recently announced her global partnership with Arena. (see link below).

This podcast is loaded. Summer provides insight and backstory across a lot of topics. She certainly breaks through the noise of the internet, allowing us us peek into the mind of the most dominant female swimmer on the planet in her run-up to LA2028.

We cover a lot of topics. Here are a few:

--Breaking down her world records — which one meant the most and why.

--Her favorite race from the 2025 World Championships — the one where everything clicked.

--The 800 free drama — Summer finished 3rd behind Katie Ledecky (8:05.62) and Lani Pallister (8:07.29). The internet erupted when fans thought she didn’t shake Ledecky’s hand. She did — and she sets the record straight.

--Barely missing the 200 fly world record — and what that near-miss taught her about the next level.

--What’s next in 2026 — Pan Pacs, Commonwealth Games… or both?

--The business side of being Summer McIntosh — life, fame, sponsorships, and staying grounded post-Paris.

--Training in Austin under Bowman, sharing lanes with Regan Smith, and how that chemistry is shaping her next phase.

--The illness that forced her out of the World Cup — and the aftermath. There a lot more to this story!

A different Summer showed up this year. She’s older, mature, and ready to provide us a unique look at what it takes to keep climbing when you’re already on top. And, I think she’s just getting started. She’s only 19, and I see this relationship with her fans growing more intimate as we near LA and the 2028 Summer Olympic Games.

0:00 Summer McIntosh Introduction
2:00 Signing with Arena
4:25 Tapered for Canadian Trials?
7:13 800 Free in Singapore
14:08 200 Fly
20:35 Event Schedule
23:54 Training with Bowman in Austin
27:30 Sponsorships
29:39 Canadian Relays
32:56 Goal Times
33:34 World Cup Sickness
36:23 OTC Training Trip
40:50 Competitions
41:18 Ariarne Titmus Retiring
43:43 Leaving Sarasota
46:15 Training with Fred Vergnoux
49:10 Quality Workouts

MEL UPDATE: I told Summer in the podcast that I would include her mom’s career notes. Here it is:

Summer's Mom - Jill Horstead

1983 Pan American Games (Age 16): 200m Fly, 4th, 2:17.13
1984 Summer Olympics – Los Angeles: 200m Fly, 9th (1st in B Final), 2:13.49
1985 Pan Pacific Championships: 200m Fy, Bronze, 2:13.46
1986 Commonwealth Games: 200m Fly, Bronze, 2:14.53
And she swam at the University of Florida under Randy Reese. She was an All-American in 200 fly and 400 IM.

Swimming news courtesy of SwimSwam.com (swimswam.com)

Click here to listen and
open.spotify.com/show/3UGrNWoMK0RqWZCMbOwUPO

Click here to listen and
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fish-out-of-water-the-swimswam-podcast/id1467108547

Click here to listen and
swimswam.podbean.com

Click here to listen and
podcasts.google.com

Follow SwimSwam on:
Facebook: facebook.com/swimswamnews
Twitter: twitter.com/swimswamnews
Instagram: instagram.com/swimswamnews

This is a Gold Medal Media production presented by SwimOutlet.com. Host Gold Medal Mel Stewart is a 3-time Olympic medalist and the co-founder of SwimSwam.com, a Swimming News website.

Opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the interviewed guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs, and viewpoints of the hosts, SwimSwam Partners, LLC and/or SwimSwam advertising partners.