Summer McIntosh has won Canada’s first medal of the Olympic Games in Paris with a silver in swimming’s 400-metre freestyle.
Australia’s Ariarne Titmus defended her Olympic crown in a time of three minutes 3:57.49 seconds ahead of McIntosh in 3:58.37 and bronze medallist Katie Ledecky of the United States in 4:00.86.
All three medallists were past or present world record holders.
McIntosh nearly won the first Olympic medal of her career in the 400 free as a 14-year-old three years ago in Tokyo, but placed fourth.
The race had been compared to the epic men’s 200 freestyle “Race of the Century” showdown between American Michael Phelps, Australian Ian Thorpe and Dutch giant Pieter van den Hoogenband in 2004.
“I’m just happy to get the result for myself and I feel so honored to be a part of the race and be alongside legends like Katie,” said Titmus.
“I look up to her so much as an athlete and there’s certainly not a rivalry beyond the races. I really respect her as a person and I hope that I put on a good show tonight and everyone enjoyed it.”
Also, defending women’s 100-metre butterfly champion Maggie Mac Neil of London, Ont., qualified for the final of that event.
She tied for the fourth-fasted time in the semifinals.
Click on the video player above to watch live coverage of the first day of Olympic swimming finals.
Other Canadian results:
- Women’s 4×100 relay squad (Penny Oleksiak, Mary-Sophie Harvey, Brooklyn Douthwright, Taylor Ruck) was sixth of eight teams advancing to 3:34 p.m. final with 3:35.29 clocking. Australia qualified first in 3:31.57. Oleksiak had the Canadians sitting second following her opening leg. For the final, Canada has confirmed a lineup change. Summer McIntosh, Taylor Ruck, Maggie Mac Neil and Penny Oleksiak will compete, in that order.
- Men’s 4×100 relay team of Finlay Knox, Yuri Kisil, Javier Acevedo and Josh Liendo qualified fifth (3:12.77) for Saturday final at 3:44 p.m. China posted the best time at 3:11.62. There’s been an order change for the final, with Canada now lining up Josh Liendo, Yuri Kisil, Finlay Knox and Javier Acevedo.