By: Rachael Tan

Summer McIntosh, a 17-year-old Canadian swimming prodigy, won her first Olympic gold medal Monday night during the women’s 400-meter individual, touching the finish in 4:27.71.

Americans Katie Grimes (4:33.40) and Emma Weyant (4:34.93) earned silver and bronze, respectively with a pretty big gap.

McIntosh came into the Olympics 400 IM as a world record holder and a two time world champion, and was heavily considered a favorite to win.

The result was not necessarily a surprise, but the gap between her and Grimes is quite impressive.

McIntosh said she first realized how big her lead was at the start of the breaststroke leg, and that she knew by the end of it that she was about to win her first gold medal, which led to a very enjoyable final freestyle leg.

Afterward, McIntosh was calm and composed, as she so often is after an event. She’s swam this event so many times in major international meets that winning the Olympics didn’t startle her.

“I have been doing this since I was 14,” McIntosh said. “Every single time I get to race on the world stage, I learn more and more about handling (it) mentally and physically and emotionally. I try not to get too high or too low depending on my race results.”

McIntosh has said she grew up idolizing swimmers Katie Ledecky and Michael Phelps. She had a poster of Ledecky on her wall growing up and her cat was named “Mikey” after Phelps. Today, she’s enjoying all the glory on the Olympic stage just like them.

“She’s an inspiration to everyone,” said teammate Kylie Masse, who swam in the women’s 100-meter backstroke semifinals Monday night. “For so many young swimmers in Canada to be able to see her and see her success here on the international stage, (they’ll know) that they can dream big and continue to do whatever they put their mind to.”

Later this week, McIntosh will swim, and be the favorite to win, in both the 200 IM and the 200 fly.