Chinese swimmer Yu Zidi, 12, has been labelled a “sensation” after setting the fastest ever time by male or female in that age group in the 200m individual medley at China’s national championships.
Yu’s 2:10.63 time saw her finish second in the event, won by 2024 Olympic finalist Yu Yuting, and could see her included in China’s swimming squad for this year’s World Championships in Singapore, which will be staged in July and August.
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The swim represented a huge personal best from Yu, who swam a 2:12.52 at the semi-final stage which had already established her as the fastest ever 12-year-old, male or female, per World Aquatics.
It continued Yu’s rise to prominence, having also recorded eye-catching times at the previous Chinese Nationals.
In April 2024, an 11-year-old Yu finished the women’s 400-metre individual medley two seconds shy of the qualifying time for that year’s Olympics, per the South China Morning Post. Swimming the race in a time of four minutes and 40.97 seconds, Yu’s time would have earned her a spot at that year’s World Championships in Qatar, which were held in February.
How Yu’s time compares
Had the 2:10.63 time been recorded in last year’s Olympics, it would have been good enough to reach the semifinal stage of the women’s 200m medley, where the cut-off was 2:11.96. Australia’s Ella Ramsay was then the last qualifier for the final with a time of 2:10.16, with Canada’s Summer McIntosh eventually taking gold with a new Olympic record of 2:06.56.
By comparison, the U.S. National Age Group Records for girls and boys 11-12 are respectively held by Teagan O’Dell (2:18.69) and Richard Poplawski (2:13.59), both set in 2019, per USA Swimming.
At those World Championships in Doha, 2:10.63 would have seen Yu qualify from the semifinals with the sixth-fastest time and also take sixth place in the final. China’s Yu Yiting, 19, won bronze in the final with a time of 2:09.01.
🚨 12-year-old sensation alert! 🇨🇳
Yu Zidi just swam a blazing 2:10.63 in the women’s 200m IM at the Chinese Nationals 🤯 — the fastest time ever by a 12-year-old📹 CCTV Sports pic.twitter.com/OacPsM8YYt
— World Aquatics (@WorldAquatics) May 19, 2025
“In 2024, I participated in some competitions, achieved some results, and many swimming fans recognised me,” Yu told Chinese media earlier this year, as cited by AFP in Beijing.
“After experiencing major competitions, I understood even better the importance of doing well in every training session to achieve good results and have a strong heart.”
“The most difficult time is probably when you are closest to your goal. You must keep going.”
(Photo: AFP via Getty Images)
This news was originally published on this post .
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