Up next for McIntosh in Paris: Her signature, world-record event

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PARIS – There was a second, barely detectable in case your eyes weren’t educated on the pool deck at La Protection Area, that Summer season McIntosh maybe sensed the magnitude of the second.

These had been anticipated to be her Video games, in spite of everything, a truth of which she’s effectively conscious, together with a actuality that no quantity of coddling from her handlers can lighten the burden of expectations.

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So, on that early Saturday night in Paris, with a deep breath and a shrug of her shoulders, the Toronto teen climbed onto the block in Lane 6 and dove in for a silver medal efficiency that washed away the nerves and set the stage for her largest second but.

Summer season silver is predicted to show to wonderful gold right here on Monday evening when she swims her coronary heart out within the 400-metre particular person medley, a race that she has twice lowered the world report in and that she is predicted to dominate.

On Monday morning, she simply received her warmth in a time of 4:37.35 — which was third quickest, however was executed with such ease that it regarded like a morning coaching session. That effort set her up for the large present in a while Monday.

“I used to be fairly proud of it,” McIntosh mentioned after her swim. “Going into this morning I used to be simply making an attempt to get the heats out of the best way and get an excellent lane heading into the finals. That aim was completed so I’m excited for tonight.”

She’s now raced 4 instances right here – twice within the 400 free, as soon as within the 4×100 relay and Monday’s prelim effort. With that there’s some consolation with the pool, the group and the routine that ought to assist lock her in the remainder of the meet.

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“I attempt to deal with daily of my racing like Day 1,” McIntosh mentioned. “It’s a very lengthy meet, however the best way to handle these is simply by making an attempt to get well as a lot as potential and mentally resting and making ready on the similar time for my following races.”

Apart from exhibiting that she’s in type, her efforts have allowed McIntosh to absorb among the unimaginable environment at these Video games, in stark distinction to the expertise in Japan the place as a 14-year-old she raced in entrance of no spectators.

“To be sincere, I feel the Tokyo Olympics had been approach tougher mentally, being fairly younger however on the similar time having nobody within the stands for apparent causes,” McIntosh mentioned. “It was all my first worldwide meet ever. Studying to handle that was undoubtedly one thing that took quite a lot of follow.

Now having everybody within the stands and feeding off the vitality within the crowd really makes the race go by sooner and a little bit bit simpler.”

If that feels like a composed younger athlete, it’s exactly what you get with McIntosh. All of the potential and all of the accomplishment to this point has led to this second: A chance for the 17-year-old to shine brightest within the Metropolis of Mild and start her promising reign as an Olympic champion.

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“It sounds loopy, however I feel each time she dives into the pool, we’re anticipating one thing spectacular,” mentioned Canadian backstroke ace Kylie Masse, who at 28 is 11 years her senior. “That’s simply the kind of athlete that she is.”

With a silver in her pocket in an occasion she was anticipated to contend however not essentially win, McIntosh validated the early hype and a meticulous 12 months of coaching. It was a gap act that helped wash away no matter nerves she could be feeling and set the stage for greater moments but to unfold.

“To be mentally and bodily ready to face up on the primary evening and be Canada’s first medallist from all sports activities within the Olympics it carries a toll,” Swimming Canada excessive efficiency director and nationwide coach John Atkinson mentioned. “Anyway, that’s executed now … She’s an Olympic medallist. A silver medallist and now it’s restoration to prepare for what comes subsequent.”

What awaits might actually be particular — for the game, for the athlete and for her nation. After Monday’s 400 IM, she’ll race in two extra particular person occasions and presumably two extra relays. If all goes to plan, the medal haul could possibly be staggering.

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Previous to the Video games, McIntosh dismissed the notion of strain and expectations, telling Postmedia that she was “getting sort of used to it at this level” and that “all I hear is the assist.”

A La Protection Area on Saturday, McIntosh heard way more from a sold-out crowd that might not wait to see a showdown with two of the world’s established greatest: Ariarne Titmus of Australia, who would go on to win gold, and American star Katie Ledecky, who was effectively behind the Canadian in third.

“At this stage, it’s about racing on the day of and I feel she dealt with the second fairly effectively,” her coach Brent Arckey mentioned following Saturday’s sterling effort. “That’s been years within the making. A whole lot of that goes to her mentally and her tenacity eager to be the perfect that she may be.”

There can be no reigning in that tenacity on Monday evening — not that McIntosh ever slips right down to that gear, anyway. Like Sunday, Tuesday can be an off day and a chance to relaxation and get well.

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The 400m particular person medley is her calling card, a race she lowered her personal world report in on the Canadian Olympic Trials in Toronto again in Could, in the kind of efficiency that dazzles her teammates.

However what actually units her aside is a aggressive drive that confirmed its enamel on Saturday when there was a light tinge of remorse at not profitable gold, regardless of taking over American Katie Ledecky and Aussie Ariarne Titmus, two heavyweights of the game.

“You’re not a champion if you happen to accept second and third,” Atkinson mentioned in describing that McIntosh mindset. “You’re all the time going to need to get extra. The primary day, it’s one thing to have fun and be pleased about. There was strain however there’s a toughness about her, each bodily and psychological. It was not solely the primary race of the Olympic Video games, it’s being up on the primary day and understanding you might be carrying the expectations you might have for your self after which (delivering.)”

On Monday, she will get her likelihood to unleash her largest second but, a signature swim that might sign the beginning of her legend.

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