Thirteen-year-old Chinese swimming prodigy Yu Zidi completed a dominant hat-trick of gold medals at the Asian Games by winning the 400m individual medley in a record time of four minutes 28.56 seconds. Leading from start to finish at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre, Yu smashed the previous 400m individual medley Games record—which had stood since 2014—by nearly 4.5 seconds.
Yu Zidi Claims Third Gold Medal With 400m Individual Medley Record
Her winning time stands as the fourth-fastest in the world for the event, with only Canadian world record holder Summer McIntosh having swum faster. In the 400m final, Yu finished 3.95 seconds ahead of compatriot Ke Wenxi, who claimed silver, while Japan’s Mio Narita took bronze.
Record-Breaking Performances Across Multiple Events
Yu’s latest victory builds upon a historic run at the ongoing Games in Japan. Earlier in the competition, she captured gold in the women’s 200m butterfly with a Games-record time of 2 minutes 05.08 seconds, breaking the previous mark set by compatriot Yufei Zhang at the Hangzhou 2023 Asian Games. Yu also secured gold in the women’s 200m individual medley in 2:06.10, reclaiming the Asian record from defending champion and compatriot Yu Yiting, who finished second in 2:07.99 with Mio Narita taking third in 2:10.40.
In addition to her individual triumphs, Yu contributed to China’s victory in the women’s 4x100m freestyle relay, where the team clocked 3:33.10. Reflecting on her success, Yu Zidi said, Very excited, very happy. It’s an achievement that shows the hard work of our team
.
Background and Rise to International Stardom
Born in Baoding, China, on October 16, 2012, Yu was discovered by a swimming coach at age six when her father took her to a water park to cool off. She burst onto the international stage last year by becoming the youngest-ever medallist at the World Swimming Championships in Singapore, where she earned a bronze medal as part of China’s 4x200m freestyle relay team.
Although World Aquatics rules require swimmers to be at least 14 years old, Yu was granted eligibility after meeting the association’s “A” standard times at the Chinese National Swimming Championships. Her rapid trajectory has drawn praise from swimming greats, including Hong Kong’s first Olympic medallist in swimming, Siobhan Haughey, who noted Yu’s growing dominance in major competitions.
Future Outlook and Olympic Prospects
With her stellar performances in Nagoya, Yu is widely tipped by observers to contend for medals at the 2008 Los Angeles Olympics, where she will be 15 years old. Despite facing intense physical and mental pressure balancing schoolwork and rigorous training—acknowledging that the pressure during her buildup to the national games felt like a big stone that weighed on me
—Yu remains focused on her long-term aspirations. There is still a long road ahead,
Yu noted. I will keep holding fast to my original dream, drawing strength from my team, to stand on the Olympic podium
.
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