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Yu Zidi Sets Second Asian Games Swimming Record in Two Days — AI-generated representative image: A young female swimmer competes in a medley event at an indoor pool during the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.

Editorial Team

China's 13-year-old prodigy clocks 2:06.10 in the 200m individual medley for a new Asian record

China's 13-year-old swimming prodigy Yu Zidi has broken her second Asian Games record in as many days, posting a time of 2:06.10 in the women's 200m individual medley at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games in Japan on Tuesday. The performance also set a new Asian record.

The victory followed her gold medal a day earlier in the 200m butterfly, further establishing the teenager as a dominant force at the ongoing Games and one of swimming's most exciting young talents.

Zidi's rapid rise matters because she is redefining expectations for young swimmers, already sitting just 0.40 seconds off a world record held by Canadian star Summer McIntosh. Her achievements have drawn attention from established swimmers and raised questions about how far she can go, with some already linking her to future Olympic success.

Record-Breaking Performances at the Asian Games

Zidi reclaimed the Asian record in the 200m individual medley from defending champion and compatriot Yu Yiting, who had clocked 2:06.82 in June. Yiting finished second on Tuesday with 2:07.99, while Japan's Narita Mio took third in 2:10.40.

The 13-year-old now holds the Asian Games record, the Asian record, and the second-fastest 200m medley of all time, trailing only the 2:05.70 world record set by Summer McIntosh, whom Zidi considers her idol.

Her 200m butterfly gold came with a time of 2:05.08, smashing the Games record of 2:05.57 set by compatriot Yufei Zhang at the Hangzhou 2023 Asian Games. Zhang, a multiple-time Olympic, World and Asian Games champion, was named Most Valuable Player at Hangzhou 2023 for her record six gold medals and picked up her first gold at Aichi-Nagoya in the women's 4x100m freestyle relay, which China won in 3:33.10.

Rise to Stardom

Zidi was born in Baoding, China, on October 16, 2012. She was first noticed by a swimming coach at age six when her father took her to a water park to cool off during the summer.

She burst onto the international stage in August 2025 when, aged 12, she won bronze as part of China's 4x200m freestyle relay team at the World Swimming Championships in Singapore, becoming the youngest-ever medallist at the event. She followed that with two golds, one silver, and an Asian record in the 200m individual medley at the Chinese National Swimming Championships later that year.

Although World Aquatics requires swimmers to be at least 14 years old, Zidi was permitted to compete after meeting the association's "A" standard times at the Chinese National Swimming Championships in May last year.

Reactions and Self-Assessment

"Very excited, very happy. It's an achievement that shows the hard work of our team," Zidi said after her win. "I'm happier with the second gold medal than the first." She described 21-year-old teammate Yiting as "a strong opponent who motivates me to improve and work harder."

Despite her success, Zidi remained self-critical, saying her 200m freestyle performance "was only so-so" and adding: "My technique is still slightly lacking. I need to lower my head earlier, reach further forward and improve the movement of my legs. Those are all areas that I need to work on."

Siobhan Haughey, Hong Kong's first Olympic medallist in swimming, said Zidi's dominance reflects a wider trend of young swimmers excelling. "I think the general consensus is we have more and more great young swimmers swimming well," said Haughey, who added that Zidi is "definitely capable of going to the LA Olympics" and is "doing well under pressure at big meets."

What Lies Ahead

Zidi can add a third individual gold on Wednesday in the 400m individual medley. However, she is not listed in China's roster for the women's 4x200m freestyle relay scheduled for Thursday.

With the Asian Games ongoing and her Olympic potential already being discussed, further confirmation of her competition schedule and any additional medal results is awaited.