At just 13 years old, Hebei native Yu Zidi stunned spectators at the 15th National Games in Shenzhen, in the Chinese mainland, on Nov 11. She touched the wall first in the women's 200m individual medley with a blazing time of 2:07.41, setting a new Asian record.
Yu's rise has been meteoric. Earlier this year, she clinched a spot at the World Championships by finishing second at May's National Championships. In July's world final in Singapore, she shaved her personal best to 2:09.21—already putting her among the global elite.
This week, Yu faced off against returning champion Yu Yiting, who led by a full second after the butterfly leg. But during the breaststroke, the 13-year-old closed the gap and powered through the final freestyle stretch, edging ahead to break the previous mark set by Chinese compatriot Ye Shiwen at the London 2012 Olympics.
Beyond the medal count, Yu Zidi's breakthrough reflects a broader trend: a new generation of athletes is redefining what's possible in the pool. Her performance not only highlights China's expanding depth in youth sports, but also inspires young swimmers around the world to dive into their own ambitions.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
