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yesterday

12-Year-Old Yu Zidi Shatters Age-Group Record at Chinese Nationals

Yu's 200m individual medley time of 2:10.63 qualifies her for the 2025 World Championships, pending final team selection.

China's Yu Zidi reacts after finishing the women's 200 meters freestyle semifinal at the 2025 National Swimming Championships in Shenzhen, in China's southern Guangdong province on May 19, 2025. (Photo by AFP) / China OUT (Photo by -/AFP via Getty Images)

Overview

  • Yu Zidi, 12, set a world-best time for her age group in the 200m individual medley with a 2:10.63 performance at the Chinese Nationals in Shenzhen on May 19, 2025.
  • Her record-breaking swim earned her second place behind 2024 Olympic finalist Yu Yiting, showcasing her potential against elite competition.
  • The time surpasses the qualification standard for the 2025 World Championships in Singapore, with final team selection pending the conclusion of the national meet.
  • World Aquatics celebrated her achievement on social media, calling her a '12-year-old sensation,' while Chinese state media highlighted her as a rising star.
  • Yu's time would have been fast enough to reach the semi-finals at the 2024 Paris Olympics, underlining the significance of her performance at such a young age.