The Summer of Summer begins in less than 10 days, when Canada’s greatest swimming prospect in a generation is expected to heat up the Paris pool and bring home a potential record medal haul.
Summer McIntosh is only 17, but she’s been in the national spotlight ever since she burst on the scene as a 14-year-old three years ago at the Tokyo Olympics.
As she’s racked up world championships and world records, the demands for her time and attention — from sponsors, media, fans, the national sport organization — has only increased, and along with it the scheduling conflicts with training, competition and just being a teenager.
But protecting her is a mama bear who knows the Olympic woods better than most parents, who also had to navigate the choppy waters of being a teenaged Olympic swimmer for Canada.
Jill McIntosh will do whatever she needs to ensure the waters …