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Yu Zidi Claims Asian Games Gold, Sets New Record
Yu Zidi is a 13-year-old swimmer from China.
She won a gold medal in the women’s 200m butterfly at the Asian Games in Japan.
Her time was 2:05.08, which set a new Asian Games record.
She beat China’s previous record-holder, Zhang Yufei.
Yu began swimming when she was six after a coach noticed her at a water park.
She nearly qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympics when she was 11.
She also became the youngest swimming World Championships medallist after winning a relay bronze medal at age 12.
Yu will compete in two individual medley events at the Games.
Another Chinese swimmer, Pan Zhanle, won the men’s 100m freestyle.
China’s 13-year-old Yu Zidi won the women’s 200m butterfly in 2:05.08.
Her time set an Asian Games record, surpassing Zhang Yufei’s 2:05.57 mark from Hangzhou.
China’s Chang Mohan won silver, while Japan’s Misa Okuzono took bronze.
Yu improved on her previous personal best of 2:05.71 and is scheduled to swim two individual medley events.
Pan Zhanle also won gold for China in the men’s 100m freestyle in 47.61 seconds.
- Who
- China’s 13-year-old swimmer Yu Zidi won the women’s 200m butterfly; Pan Zhanle also won a swimming gold medal.
- What
- Yu won in 2:05.08, setting an Asian Games record and improving her personal best.
- Where
- The swimming competition was held at the Olympic pool in Tokyo, Japan, as part of the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.
- When
- The race took place on the first full day of competition after the Games opened on Saturday; the Games continue until October 4, 2026.
- Why
- Yu’s victory was notable because it delivered a major individual gold medal and established her as one of swimming’s leading young athletes.
Key facts
- Age
- 13; Yu turns 14 on October 16, 2026
- Gold-medal event
- Women’s 200m butterfly
- Winning time
- 2:05.08
- Asian Games record
- Yu surpassed Zhang Yufei’s previous record of 2:05.57
- Other medalists
- Chang Mohan won silver in 2:08.44; Misa Okuzono won bronze in 2:09.97
- Upcoming events
- Women’s 200m individual medley and 400m individual medley
- Career milestone
- She became the youngest swimming World Championships medallist after winning relay bronze at age 12
- Reported improvement
- Her cited previous personal best was 2:05.71; Yu also said she had improved by 0.9 seconds at the Games
Quotes
Yu Zidi
Thirteen-year-old Chinese swimmer and Asian Games women’s 200m butterfly gold medallist.
“I hope I can swim even faster. I improved my time by 0.9 seconds here, and I believe I will perform better next time”
news18.com
“It was only so-so”
news18.com
Sources
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