Chinese swimmer Yu Zidi reaches world championships final aged 12

AFP

28 Jul, 2025 12:47 AM2 mins to read

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Yu Zidi of China prepares to compete in the Women’s 200m Individual Medley semifinal at the 2025 World Aquatics Championships in Singapore. Photo / Getty Images

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The 12-year-old Chinese swimming prodigy Yu Zidi surprised even herself after reaching the final of the 200m medley at the world championships in Singapore on Sunday (local time).

The schoolgirl squeezed into the final in Singapore in seventh place in 2m 10.22s in what is not her best event.

Yu,
who juggles swimming with her homework, is also competing in the 400m medley and the 200m butterfly against most of the best swimmers on the planet.

“I’m in? Oh, I’m happy about that and I will continue to work harder,” she said after realising she had made Monday’s final.

“I hope to find a breakthrough at these world championships and show my potential.”