12-Year-Old Yu Zidi Becomes Youngest World Aquatics Medallist in Singapore

Twelve-year-old Chinese swimmer Yu Zidi has become a standout star at the 2025 World Aquatics Championships in Singapore by reaching the final of the women's 200-meter individual medley and finishing fourth, missing a medal by just six hundredths of a second. Despite World Aquatics' typical minimum age requirement of 14, Yu was granted an exemption due to her exceptional qualifying times, including a world age-group record she set earlier in the year. She also earned a bronze medal as part of China's relay team by swimming in the heats, making her the youngest medallist in World Aquatics history. Yu's rapid rise has sparked discussions about the physical and mental impacts of high-level competition on such a young athlete, with some experts expressing concern about the intensity of her training at this age. Meanwhile, World Aquatics officials are considering reevaluating age eligibility policies in light of Yu's breakthrough. Her performances have drawn comparisons to legendary swimmers, while highlighting the balance needed between nurturing talent and protecting young athletes' wellbeing.