Summer McIntosh wins gold, repeats as world champ in 200m butterfly

Canada’s Summer McIntosh retained her world title in the women’s 200m butterfly final on Thursday at the World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan.

The 16-year-old swimmer from Toronto finished in two minutes, 4.06 seconds — a new Canadian and world junior record.

Australia’s Elizabeth Dekkers took silver in 2:05.46, while American Regan Smith claimed bronze in 2:06.58.

After the medal ceremony, McIntosh told CBC Sports reporter Devin Heroux that her game plan was to keep things light.

“Going into this race I knew I’d [won] world champion last year, and that was kind of unexpected for me,” she said. “I was just trying to have as much fun as possible and race as hard as I could – and just try to hold on in that second half, [which] is so hard in the 200 fly.

“Overall I’m happy with what I accomplished tonight.”

WATCH | McIntosh claims gold in Japan:

Thursday’s win also continued McIntosh’s “bounceback” from a disappointing fourth-place finish in the women’s 400m freestyle final earlier in the week.

“After that [400m freestyle final], I knew I had to turn things around quickly as I had so many other events I was looking forward to, and I wasn’t going to let it get me down,” she said. “I was just really excited because 200 fly is one of my favourite events.

“It’s all about mindset, especially at these long meets.”

Canadians miss podium in backstroke

Kylie Masse finished fourth in the women’s 50m backstroke final, while Canadian teammate Ingrid Wilm finished sixth.

Masse, of LaSalle, Ont., finished in a personal best of 27.28 seconds, just behind bronze-medal winner Lauren Cox (27.20).

Australia’s Kaylee McKeown won gold in 27.08, while Regan Smith won her second medal of the session, taking silver in 27.11.

Wilm, of Calgary, touched the wall in 27.41.

WATCH LIVE | Swimming finals at the World Aquatics Championships: