By: Jessica Sun

medal in the Olympics on monday night during a 400-meter IM which includes two laps of each stroke: butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke, and freestyle.

Mcintosh’s time was 4:27.71. Americans Katie Grimes ( 4:33.40) and Emma Weyant (4:34.93) achieved silver and bronze.

Mclntosh is the world record holder and a two time world champion in the event. She was considered a big favorite in the 400 IM coming to the Paris Olympics.

Mclntosh said she realized that she had a big lead for the breaststroke leg and knew by the end she was about to win her first gold medal, which led to a very peaceful and relaxing freestyle leg. She had swam that event so many times in major international meets that she swam it at the Olympics and won.

Mclntosh had competed in the women’s 400 free three years ago at the Tokyo Olympics finishing fourth.

“I have been doing this since I was 14,” McIntosh said. “Every single time I get to race on the world stage, I learned 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.”

She grew up idolizing Micheal Phelps and Ledecky, and had a poster of her in her room. Her cat was named “Mikey” after Phelps.

Later this week, she will swim the 200 IM and the 200 fly.