Summer McIntosh’s quest for five individual gold medals at the 2028 Summer Olympics has hit a snag due to scheduling changes announced recently. The revised schedule poses conflicts for the Canadian swimmer, particularly in the women’s 200m butterfly and 800m freestyle events, which are now back-to-back on the final day of swimming competition.
Despite being a three-time world champion and the reigning Olympic champion in the 200m fly, McIntosh showcased her prowess by recording the second-fastest women’s 800m freestyle time ever during the Canadian trials in June. However, the new scheduling adjustments have forced her to reconsider her event selection strategy.
Byron MacDonald, the head swimming coach at the University of Toronto, explained that McIntosh’s fifth event in Los Angeles will likely be the 200m freestyle due to the scheduling conflicts with her other preferred events. While she is set to compete in the 200m individual medley, 400m IM, 200m fly, and 400m free, the 800m freestyle and 200m backstroke are no longer viable options given the scheduling challenges.
McIntosh is anticipated to kick off her Olympic campaign with the 400m freestyle final on July 22. A tentative projection of McIntosh’s lineup for the 2028 Games includes key events spread out over the competition days, culminating in the 200m butterfly final on the ninth day.
In another significant change, the 2028 Summer Games will witness the women’s 100m sprinters leading the competition on the opening day, marking a departure from the traditional swimming commencement. The shift in scheduling places track and field events at the forefront, with all three rounds of the women’s 100 meters set to take place on July 15 at the LA Coliseum.
Organizers opted for this change as the opening ceremony will be held at SoFi Stadium, rendering it unfeasible to accommodate swimming events there immediately after. This alteration grants the elite female sprinters, including potential stars like Sha’Carri Richardson and Melissa Jefferson-Wooden, ample time to prepare for the demanding competition ahead.