Chinese 12-year-old swimmer Yu Zidi sets age-group record in 200m individual medley, securing spot at World Championships.
In a remarkable display of talent, 12-year-old Chinese swimmer Yu Zidi has qualified for the upcoming World Championships in Singapore.
She got this for her record-breaking time in the women’s 200-meter individual medley at China’s national championships in Shenzhen.
Yu completed the event in 2 minutes and 10.63 seconds.
A time that not only secured her second place behind Olympic finalist Yu Yiting but also stands as the fastest ever recorded by a swimmer of her age in this discipline.
Her performance was well within the qualifying standard for the World Championships.
Also at the Paris 2024 Olympics, her time would have been sufficient to reach the semi-finals.
Yu’s rapid ascent in the swimming world is attributed to her intensive training regimen, which she began at the age of nine.
In 2024, at just 11 years old, she secured a silver medal in the 400-meter individual medley at the national championships, finishing behind Yu Yiting.
The Chinese swimming association is expected to finalize the national squad for the World Championships.
This would be after the conclusion of the week-long national competition in Shenzhen.
Yu Zidi’s extraordinary achievements at such a young age have garnered international attention.
Even the World Aquatics acknowledged her as a “12-year-old sensation” on social media.
