Yu Zidi: Chinese swimming prodigy targets Asian Games and Olympics

Thirteen-year-old Chinese swimming prodigy Yu Zidi is preparing for her debut at the upcoming Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. Yu gained international attention last year at age 12 when she became the youngest medalist in the history of the World Aquatics Championships, earning a bronze medal as part of China’s 4x200m freestyle relay team.

Yu has demonstrated significant talent, recently setting an Asian record in the women’s 200m medley with a time of 2:07.41. While she has achieved rapid success, she has also spoken candidly about the physical and mental toll of elite training. She described the pressure of competition as feeling “like a large stone pressing on me,” and noted the exhaustion of balancing schoolwork with intensive training sessions.

Despite these challenges, Yu remains focused on her long-term goals, including competing in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Her coach, Ha Sinan, has noted her fearless approach to competition, though the young athlete emphasizes that her progress depends on daily persistence and hard work rather than talent alone.