New Delhi: In a moment that stunned the swimming world, Chinese schoolgirl Yu Zidi etched her name into the record books. She became the youngest swimmer ever to win a medal at the World Aquatics Championships. The 12-year-old played a key role in China’s bronze winning 4x200m freestyle relay team in Singapore earlier this week.
Although Yu didn’t swim in the final but her performance in the heats earned her a rightful place on the podium. China finished third in the final behind the United States and gold-medal winners winners Australia making Yu a part of history at just 12 year old.
Yu nearly added an individual medal to her name in the women’s 200m butterfly final where she narrowly missed the podium finish. Earlier in the week, she also placed fourth in the 200m individual medley missing out just 0.06 seconds off the bronze.
Her talent isn’t new to the swimming community as in May she shattered the world record for a 12-year-old in the 200m individual medley with a time of 2:10.63. World Aquatics even labelled her a “sensation” on social media. A title that only few will argue after her recent spectacular performance.
During the fifth day of swimming at the 2025 World Aquatics Championships, China won the bronze medal in the women’s 4×200 freestyle. By swimming in the preliminary heats, 12-year-old Yu Zidi became the youngest medal winner in history. pic.twitter.com/F7iYN4ZbF8
— Swimming Stats (@SwimmingStats) July 31, 2025
While many are celebrating Yu’s breakthrough moment, her presence at the senior-level World Championships has sparked a wider conversation. According to competition rules, swimmers are required to be at least 14 but Yu was given special clearance for meeting the elite ‘A’ standard times. This exception has led to mixed reactions from the former players.
A talent to watch with a future full of promise
Yu Zidi’s medal is not just a record-breaking moment; rather it’s a signal that a new generation is already stepping up. Whether or not she continues to compete at the highest level in the near future but her performances have already made her a name to remember. The challenge now is balancing celebration with care as the swimming world watches the next chapter in her story unfold.