Chinese Swimmer Yu Zidi Shines at World Aquatics Championships in Singapore
In an exciting debut at the World Aquatics Championships held in Singapore, 12-year-old Chinese swimmer Yu Zidi made headlines while competing in the 200-meter individual medley on Sunday. This young talent is also set to showcase her skills in the 400-meter individual medley and the 200-meter butterfly events.
Yu Zidi, born in October 2012, clocked an impressive time of 2 minutes and 11.90 seconds in the 200 IM heat, securing her spot in the semifinals with the 15th fastest qualifying time out of 16 competitors.
Reflecting on her journey, Yu shared her early experiences with swimming. At just six years old, she discovered her passion for the sport during a visit to a water park with her father. "The summer was too hot, and my dad took me to the water park," she recounted in an interview with China’s Xinhua News Agency, as featured in The Sydney Morning Herald. "I enjoyed the coolness of the water and spent a lot of time in small pools for kids. One day, a coach approached me and asked if I wanted to swim faster."
With World Aquatics allowing younger swimmers to compete if they meet certain qualifying standards, Yu’s participation at such a young age is both a remarkable achievement and a testament to her potential. She expressed her aspirations, stating, “My age is currently an advantage. I hope to grow and develop more strength in the future. I really want to experience world-class competition.”
Although Yu narrowly missed qualifying for the Chinese Olympic Team for the 2024 Paris Games, she is determined to make her mark. Should she win a medal in any of her events, she would become the youngest swimmer to achieve this feat since Denmark’s Inge Sorensen, who won a medal just after turning 12 at the 1936 Berlin Olympics.
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Ryan Gaydos is a senior editor for Fox News Digital.
