Etobicoke native Summer McIntosh outvoted some big female stars to be awarded female athlete of the year 2023.
Etobicoke swimming sensation Summer McIntosh has been named The Canadian Press female athlete of the year 2023 for her outstanding performance in international swimming.
The Etobicoke resident outvoted other top women athletes in Canadian sports to cop the prestigious Bobbie Rosenfeld Award.
The 17-year-old swimmer became a double world champion for the second year in a row, defending her titles in the 200-metre butterfly and the 400-metre individual medley at the World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan.
Summer McIntosh attended Silverthorn Collegiate, with a great swimming program.
The former student of the Exceptional Athlete Program at Silverthorn Collegiate swam for the Etobicoke Swim Club and trained at the Etobicoke Olympium before moving to Florida about a year ago to train for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
Silverthorn Collegiate has a nationally acclaimed program that caters to high performance cream-of-the crop athletes, allowing flexible timetables for students to stick with their intense sports training schedules.
She is currently a Grade 11 student at the Ontario Virtual School.
Summer McIntosh was a member of the Etobicoke Swim Club and trained at the Etobicoke Olympium.
“I’m very honoured to have it and it’s just really cool,” McIntosh told Swimming Canada after being named for the award on December 27.
The Etobian was the first swimmer in history to hold both the 400-metre and 400 freestyle world records at the same time, which McIntosh did for almost four months until Australia’s Ariarne Titmus reclaimed the freestyle record in Fukuoka last July.
“What I’m most proud of is just how much I’ve learned about myself and kind of how much I’ve gained from each experience,” McIntosh said.
Championship swimmer Summer McIntosh breaking a record in one of her races.
Her impressive four-medals at Fukuoka also saw her anchor the women’s medley relay team to a bronze medal, thereby securing their spot at the 2024 Olympic Games.
The Canadian Press began recognizing male and female athletes of the year in 1932.
McIntosh earned 24 of 52 votes cast In a survey of sports journalists and broadcasters across the country.
She began as a member of the Etobicoke Swim Club, which was founded in 1954, to support young people with the drive, determination, talent and desire, to realize their maximum potential in competitive swimming.
The Club has a long and rich history of service to the Etobicoke community.
McIntosh (left) with some of her award-winning swim mates after a race.
It has produced many national, international and Olympic swimmers and has been Provincial and National Champion many times over.
McIntosh mother Jill was also an Etobicoke swim star who competed in the 1984 Olympics.
“We are extremely proud of our swimmers and their successes; however, as parents, we are equally proud of the outstanding citizens that our children have become for the community,” Club officials said.
Today it has more than 270 swimmers competing for Etobicoke, from the novice level all the way to National Team members.
Basketballer Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was awarded The Canadian Press Male Athlete of the Year 2023.
The Club has had 34 swimmers placed on the Canadian Olympic teams since 1956, two swimmers on the 2000 Olympic team and 14 who were junior provincial Championships from 2001 to 2008.
Previous winners of CP’s female athlete of the year include hockey players Marie-Philip Poulin (2022) and Hayley Wickenheiser (2007), tennis players Leylah Fernandez (2021) and Bianca Andreescu (2019), soccer star Christine Sinclair (2020, 2012), golfer Brooke Henderson (2015, 2017, 2018) and swimmer Penny Oleksiak (2016).
Hamilton basketball star
Hamilton basketball star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was awarded the Canadian Press Male Athlete of the Year 2023. The basketball star from Hamilton, Ont., is The Canadian Press male athlete of the year.
He led Canada to its first-ever FIBA World Cup medal last September, earning bronze with a win over the United States. Canada’s performance at the tournament earned it its first Olympic berth since 2000.
was awarded the Canadian Press Male Athlete of the Year 2023.
He led Canada to its first-ever FIBA World Cup medal last September, earning bronze with a win over the United States. Canada’s performance at the tournament earned it its first Olympic berth since 2000.