13-Year-Old Phenom Yu Zidi Blasts Asian Record in 200 IM at Chinese National Games
Anticipation was high for the second session of finals at the Chinese National Games on Tuesday night, as 13-year-old prodigy Yu Zidi entered the 200-meter individual medley as the top seed. Coming off three finals appearances at last summer’s World Championships in Singapore, Yu was expected to deliver an impressive showing in her home nation.
She certainly came through.
Registering a time of 2:07.41, Yu established the first Asian record of her career. Her performance undercut the former continental record in the event, the 2:07.57 that Ye Shiwen posted on the way to gold in the 200 medley at the 2012 Olympic Games in London. Placing second was Yu Yiting, who recorded a strong mark of 2:08.30.
Having just reached her teenage years, Yu owned a best time of 2:09.21 ahead of her outing at the National Games. To go nearly two seconds faster in only a three-month period speaks to the improvement arc of the youngster, and the potential she possesses on the road to the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
The 200 medley, arguably, is Yu’s third-best event, ranking behind the 400 individual medley and 200 butterfly. However, she now ranks No. 9 in the all-time rankings. In the week ahead, it will be interesting to see what the teen has in store in the 400 IM and 200 fly. Her best times in those events sit at 4:33.76 and 2:06.43, respectively. Given her improvement in the 200 IM, it would not be shocking to see Yu challenge the 4:30 barrier in the 400 medley.
At last summer’s World Championships, Yu finished fourth in all three of her individual events and contributed a prelims leg to China’s 800 freestyle relay, which went on to claim the bronze medal.
Chinese National Games – Day One