Picture this: a young powerhouse swimmer not only claiming victory but obliterating a benchmark set by one of the sport's icons – that's the electrifying scene Summer McIntosh delivered at the 2025 U.S. Open. But here's where it gets controversial: is this the dawn of a new era in women's swimming, or will the legends of the past stage a comeback? Dive in with me as we unpack this thrilling development, and trust me, there's plenty more to uncover that most fans overlook at first glance.
We're talking about the 2025 U.S. Open, set to unfold from December 3-6 in Austin, Texas, at the prestigious Lee and Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center. For those new to the scene, this is a major long-course meter (LCM, which means 50-meter pools) event in American swimming, drawing top talent from around the globe. If you're curious, check out the official Meet Central page, psych sheets, and live results to follow along in real-time.
To keep things straightforward, prelims kick off at 10 a.m. EST each day, while finals are scheduled for 7 p.m. EST – except for Day 1, which wraps up at 5 p.m. EST. You can catch live recaps for Day 2 prelims, Day 1 finals, and Day 2 finals to stay updated minute by minute.
Now, let's zoom in on the women's 400-meter freestyle finals – a grueling race where athletes showcase endurance over four lengths of the pool. Summer McIntosh, representing Canada, now holds the world record at an astonishing 3:54.18, set in 2025. Katie Ledecky, the American superstar, had the U.S. Open record at 3:56.81 from April's Fort Lauderdale Pro Series stop, also in 2025. And for this meet, McIntosh's own previous best here was 3:59.42 back in 2023.
The top eight finishers painted a clear picture of the competition:
1. Summer McIntosh (TXLA) – 3:55.37, securing a new U.S. Open record.
2. Anna Peplowski (ISC) – 4:10.55.
3. Emma Weyant (GSC) – 4:11.25.
4. Mila Nikanorov (OSU) – 4:11.91.
5. Chloe Stepanek (LIAC) – 4:15.36.
6. Alex Siegel (LIAC) – 4:14.55.
7. Erin Gemmell (TEX) – 4:16.54.
8. Leticia Fassina Romao (UOFL) – 4:17.73.
McIntosh's triumph tonight wasn't just a win; her time of 3:55.37 ranks as the second-fastest 400 free performance ever recorded. This achievement smashed Ledecky's U.S. Open mark and even eclipsed her own 2023 meet record, coming within just over a second of her world record. For beginners, the 400 free is like a marathon in the water – swimmers must maintain speed and technique over 16 lengths, making every split (or segment of the race) crucial.
To illustrate the nuances, here's a breakdown of the splits for a clearer picture. Splits show how fast each 50-meter segment was swum, adding up to the total time. You'll notice McIntosh's new U.S. Open record compared to her world record and Ledecky's previous U.S. Open one:
- At 50m: McIntosh (new record): 27.13; McIntosh (world record): 27.13; Ledecky (old record): 27.46.
- At 100m: 29.29 (56.42 total for new record); 29.73 (56.95 for world); 29.51 (56.97 for old).
- At 150m: 29.81 (1:26.23); 29.61 (1:26.56); 29.96 (1:26.93).
- At 200m: 30.08 (1:56.31); 29.86 (1:56.42); 30.22 (1:57.15).
- At 250m: 29.99 (2:26.30); 29.62 (2:26.04); 29.99 (2:27.14).
- At 300m: 30.10 (2:56.40); 29.61 (2:55.65); 30.16 (2:57.30).
- At 350m: 29.72 (3:26.12); 29.47 (3:25.12); 30.01 (3:27.31).
- At 400m: 29.25 (3:55.37); 29.06 (3:54.18); 29.50 (3:56.81).
What stands out? The key contrast between McIntosh's race today and Ledecky's from April lies in the opening and closing 100 meters. McIntosh started strong, clocking half a second faster than Ledecky's old record at the 100m mark – and even half a second ahead of her own world record pace. She stayed ahead of Ledecky's time throughout but couldn't quite match her world record rhythm midway through, dropping off slightly.
This performance catapults McIntosh to owning four of the top six all-time women's LCM 400 free swims:
1. Summer McIntosh, 3:54.18 – 2025 Canadian Swimming Trials.
2. Summer McIntosh, 3:55.37 – 2025 U.S. Open.
3. Ariarne Titmus, 3:55.38 – 2023 World Championships.
4. Ariarne Titmus, 3:55.44 – 2024 Australian Olympic & Paralympic Trials.
5. Summer McIntosh, 3:56.08 – 2023 Bell Canadian Swimming Trials.
6. Summer McIntosh, 3:56.26 – 2025 World Championships.
And this is the part most people miss: these swims mark McIntosh's comeback after a brief hiatus. Her first outings since the 2025 World Championships, she was set to join the World Cup series in October but had to bow out due to illness – a reminder that even elite athletes face setbacks.
But here's where it gets controversial: with McIntosh dominating and Ariarne Titmus (another Australian sensation) close behind, is the rivalry heating up into a battle for supremacy? Some might argue McIntosh's youth gives her an edge, while others wonder if experienced vets like Ledecky will innovate and reclaim their throne. Could training methods or even the pressure of expectations be tipping the scales? It's a debate worth having – do you think McIntosh is ushering in a new golden age, or will history repeat itself?
What are your thoughts? Agree that this signals a shift in power, or disagree and predict a comeback? Share in the comments below – I'd love to hear your take!
In This Story
- Ariarne Titmus
- Katie Ledecky
- Summer McIntosh
About Anya Pelshaw
Anya Pelshaw has been part of the SwimSwam team since June 2021, handling both writing and social media duties. She covered the 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025 Women's NCAA Championships live, managed social media, and also attended 2023 U.S. Summer Nationals plus the 2024 European Championships. Read more about Anya's journey here.
