World Aquatics Championships 2025: Yu Zidi makes his debut at 12
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Chinese swimmer Yu Zidi made his debut at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore on Sunday, when he competed in individual 200 metre medleys. She is only 12 years old.
Yu will compete for individual 400 metre medleys and 200 metres butterflies.
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China’s Yu Zidi is preparing to compete in a 200-meter individual medley heat for women at the World Aquatics Championships held in Singapore on Sunday, July 27, 2025. (AP photo/Le Jin Man)
She finished in 2 minutes and 11.90 seconds at 200 IM, and advanced to the semi-finals. Her time was the 15th fastest of 16 qualifying rounds.
Born in October 2012, Yu began swimming at the age of six.
“The summer was so hot, my dad took me to the water park,” she told China’s Xinhua News Agency via the Sydney Morning Herald. “I enjoyed the coolness of the water and spent a lot of time in various small pools for my kids. One day my coach approached me and asked me if I wanted to swim faster.
China’s Yu Zidi will compete in the women’s 200 metre medley heat at the World Aquatic Championships held in Singapore on Sunday, July 27, 2025. (AP photo/Vincent Tian)
“My age is advantageous now. I want to grow and develop more powerfully in the future. I really want to experience world-class competition.”
The cut-off age for World Aquatics is 14 years old, but younger swimmers are allowed to compete if the era exceeds eligible criteria. Yu almost formed a Chinese Olympic team 2024 Paris Games However, it was only a few seconds short.
Yu Zidi of China returns to the women’s 200-meter individual medley heat at the World Aquatic Championships held in Singapore on Sunday, July 27, 2025. (AP photo/Le Jin Man)
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If Yu wins a medal in any event, she will become the youngest swimmer Since Denmark Inge Sorensen won a medal at the 1936 Berlin Olympics a month after turning 12.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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