Swimming prodigy Yu Zidi of China is making waves at the World Championships this week in Singapore. The 12-year-old is showing fans everywhere why she is already one of the fastest swimmers in the world.
How did Yu finish in the 200-meter IM?
Yu missed the podium by just six-hundredths of a second in the 200-meter Individual Medley event Monday and nearly became the youngest medalist in history. She was in third place at the halfway point.
The preteen first made headlines last year after missing out on an Olympic qualifying time for Paris 2024 by two seconds. At the Chinese national championships in May, she swam a time of 2:10.63 in the 200-meter IM, the fastest time ever by a 12-year-old, male or female. That showing led her to the current championships and a fourth-place finish in the same event.
The governing body of swimming, World Aquatics, does have an age limit of 14. However, younger competitors are allowed to race if their times surpass a qualifying standard. Yu’s times shattered the mark.
When did Yu begin her swimming career?
Yu began swimming six years ago and told the Chinese Xinhua News Agency that she nearly quit last year from exhaustion.
“Fortunately, thanks to my coaches, teammates, friends and parents, I realized swimming is an integral part of my life, and I cannot give it up,” Yu said. “I keep reminding myself that hard work will surely yield good results.”
She found a renewed sense of dedication after qualifying for the World Championships. As any 12-year-old would, she leans on her lucky cartoon dog swimming cap.
“When I feel tired during training, I encourage myself by imagining how cool it would be to compete internationally in a swimsuit adorned with the national flag and my doggy cap. This thought recharges me with energy,” Yu said.
Who is Yu’s main competition?
She still has some work to do if she’s going to catch reigning Olympic champion Summer McIntosh. The 18-year-old Canadian has already won the 200-meter IM and the 400-meter freestyle gold medals in Singapore and is going for five gold medals overall. That would tie the legendary Michael Phelps for most all-time at the World Championships.
“I was so in control that entire race and super strong and long and overall felt like I had my complete endurance, so I’m really excited for the 800 freestyle later on in the meet,” McIntosh said of the 400 freestyle win.
How does Yu compare to the greats?
McIntosh also started her swimming career at a young age. She made her debut at the 2020 games when she was 14 and won three gold medals and a silver at the Paris games in 2024.
Katie Ledecky, the most decorated female Olympic swimmer in history, started at 15 and is still going strong at 28. She’s hoping to add to her 14 total medals at the 2028 games. Barring a setback, Yu will almost certainly be competing against both in Los Angeles at age 15.
Yu is due to compete in the 200-meter butterfly heats starting Wednesday and the 400-meter IM later in the week. Those are considered her strongest events and after her performance Monday, a medal in either of those races is a possibility.
