Latest news with #WorldAquatics
3 hours ago
- Sport
12-year-old Yu Zidi of China takes stunning times to the world swimming championships
Yu Zidi of China is only 12 years old and will race at the world swimming championships later this month in Singapore. That's amazing. But her age is only part of the picture. Not only is she very young, but her times in three events this year are among the best in the world. And here's the kicker. Those times would have been very close to medals in last year's Paris Olympics. Again, she's 12. That's a sixth- or seventh-grade student depending on the school system. Not yet a teenager. 'I think it's a great story. I don't know where it will lead,' Greg Meehan, the national team director for the American squad in Singapore, told The Associated Press. As promising young swimmers do, Yu is clocking personal bests almost each time she competes. Her PBs are more than just confidence boosters, they put her in sight of records, medals and stardom. Yu has qualified in the 200- and 400-meter individual medleys, and the 200 butterfly. She could win a medal in all three. Her time of 2 minutes, 10.63 seconds in the 200 IM at the Chinese championships in May was the fastest ever by a 12-year-old swimmer — male or female — according to World Aquatics, the global governing body of the sport. That was only the start. Her time of 2:06.83 in the 200 butterfly in the same meet would have placed her fourth in last year's Paris Olympics. It was the fifth-fastest time in the world this year and would have been good enough for gold in the 2024 worlds. Again, Yu is 12 years old. To cap off the national championships she swam 4:35.53 in the 400 IM, the fifth-fastest time of the year in that event. That also would have been good for fourth place last year at the Olympics, just 0.6 behind bronze medalist Emma Weyant of the United States. The 400 IM is dominated by 18-year-old Canadian Summer McIntosh, who holds the world record of 4:23.65 and the 200 IM mark of 2:05.70. She's a generational talent, the winner of three gold medals in Paris. By comparison, Yu at 12 is swimming roughly 15 seconds faster in the 400 IM than McIntosh did at 12, and about 12 seconds faster in the 200 IM. In a 50-meter pool, 12 to 15 seconds would be a half-lap of the pool, depending on the event. Yu is not the first young swimmer to excel, but it's how she's doing it — the stunning times and the promise of more to come. Of course there are no guarantees of success, and young swimmers can burn out. Yu said she began swimming at 6 in a water amusement park. 'The summer was too hot, and my dad took me to the water park," she told China's official Xinhua News Agency. 'I enjoyed the coolness of the water and spent a lot of time in different small pools for kids. One day, a coach approached me and asked if I wanted to swim faster." The rest is history, as they say, as she explained her event preference. 'Since I am not competitive in the sprint events, I have to choose the 400-meter individual medley and the 200-meter butterfly as my favorites,' Yu told Xinhua. "My age is currently an advantage and I hope to grow and develop more strength in the future.' Yu trains at the Hebei Taihua Jinye Swimming Club in Hengshui City, south of Beijing in Hebei Province. Alzain Tareq of Bahrain swam in the 2015 worlds at only 10. She finished last in her event. World Aquatics now has stricter age rules than a decade ago. Swimmers must be at least 14 unless their times meet qualification standards. In effect, this means there is no age limit. If Yu were to win Olympic gold in three years in Los Angeles, she would be 15. But that wouldn't make her the youngest swimmer to take gold. Kyoko Iwasaki of Japan was 14 years and 6 days old when she won gold in the 200 breaststroke at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. Swimmers tend to peak early, particularly females. The specialty publication and website SwimSwam lists seven swimmers — all women — who won Olympic gold before they turned 15. Three, including Iwasaki, did it in individual events, and four got gold in relays. American superstar Katie Ledecky was 15 years and 139 days when she won the 800 freestyle at the 2012 London Olympics — the first of her nine gold medals over four Olympics. She's still swimming and is the overwhelming favorite to win the 1,500 meters in Singapore. Ledecky has the top 23 times in history in the event, and also No. 25. For another jolting perspective, consider this. Ledecky's first gold came several months before Yu was born — Oct. 6, 2012. 'I have no idea what it's like to compete abroad," Yu told Xinhua. 'I really want to experience the world-class competition.'
CBC
4 hours ago
- Sport
- CBC
12-year-old Yu Zidi of China takes stunning times to the world swimming championships
Social Sharing Yu Zidi of China is only 12 years old and will race at the world swimming championships later this month in Singapore. That's amazing. But her age is only part of the picture. Not only is she very young, but her times in three events this year are among the best in the world. And here's the kicker. Those times would have been very close to medals in last year's Paris Olympics. Again, she's 12. That's a sixth- or seventh-grade student depending on the school system. Not yet a teenager. "I think it's a great story. I don't know where it will lead," Greg Meehan, the national team director for the American squad in Singapore, told The Associated Press. The world is watching As promising young swimmers do, Yu is clocking personal bests almost each time she competes. Her PBs are more than just confidence boosters, they put her in sight of records, medals and stardom. Yu has qualified in the 200- and 400-metre individual medleys, and the 200 butterfly. She could win a medal in all three. Her time of two minutes, 10.63 seconds in the 200 IM at the Chinese championships in May was the fastest ever by a 12-year-old swimmer — male or female — according to World Aquatics, the global governing body of the sport. That was only the start. Her time of 2:06.83 in the 200 butterfly in the same meet would have placed her fourth in last year's Paris Olympics. It was the fifth-fastest time in the world this year and would have been good enough for gold in the 2024 worlds. Again, Yu is 12 years old. To cap off the national championships she swam 4:35.53 in the 400 IM, the fifth-fastest time of the year in that event. That also would have been good for fourth place last year at the Olympics, just 0.6 behind bronze medalist Emma Weyant of the United States. Faster than McIntosh at 12 The 400 IM is dominated by 18-year-old Canadian Summer McIntosh, who holds the world record of 4:23.65 and the 200 IM mark of 2:05.70. She's a generational talent, the winner of three gold medals in Paris. By comparison, Yu at 12 is swimming roughly 15 seconds faster in the 400 IM than McIntosh did at 12, and about 12 seconds faster in the 200 IM. In a 50-metre pool, 12 to 15 seconds would be a half-lap of the pool, depending on the event. Yu is not the first young swimmer to excel, but it's how she's doing it — the stunning times and the promise of more to come. Of course there are no guarantees of success, and young swimmers can burn out. Summer McIntosh's next world record, according to coach Fred Vergnoux | The Ready Room 2 days ago Fred Vergnoux was by Summer McIntosh's side when she broke three world records in five days at Canadian swimming trials, so we had to ask, 'what record will Summer set next?.' Started out as fun Yu said she began swimming at 6 in a water amusement park. "The summer was too hot, and my dad took me to the water park," she told China's official Xinhua News Agency. "I enjoyed the coolness of the water and spent a lot of time in different small pools for kids. One day, a coach approached me and asked if I wanted to swim faster." The rest is history, as they say, as she explained her event preference. "Since I am not competitive in the sprint events, I have to choose the 400-meter individual medley and the 200-meter butterfly as my favorites," Yu told Xinhua. "My age is currently an advantage and I hope to grow and develop more strength in the future." Yu trains at the Hebei Taihua Jinye Swimming Club in Hengshui City, south of Beijing in Hebei Province. Alzain Tareq of Bahrain swam in the 2015 worlds at only 10. She finished last in her event. World Aquatics now has stricter age rules than a decade ago. Swimmers must be at least 14 unless their times meet qualification standards. In effect, this means there is no age limit. Looking to LA Olympics If Yu were to win Olympic gold in three years in Los Angeles, she would be 15. But that wouldn't make her the youngest swimmer to take gold. Kyoko Iwasaki of Japan was 14 years and six days old when she won gold in the 200 breaststroke at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. Swimmers tend to peak early, particularly females. The specialty publication and website SwimSwam lists seven swimmers — all women — who won Olympic gold before they turned 15. Three, including Iwasaki, did it in individual events, and four got gold in relays. American superstar Katie Ledecky was 15 years and 139 days when she won the 800 freestyle at the 2012 London Olympics — the first of her nine gold medals over four Olympics. She's still swimming and is the overwhelming favorite to win the 1,500 meters in Singapore. Ledecky has the top 23 times in history in the event, and also No. 25. For another jolting perspective, consider this. Ledecky's first gold came several months before Yu was born — Oct. 6, 2012. "I have no idea what it's like to compete abroad," Yu told Xinhua. "I really want to experience the world-class competition."
The Hindu
6 hours ago
- Sport
- The Hindu
12-year-old Yu Zidi of China set to make waves at World Swimming Championships
Yu Zidi of China is only 12 years old and will race at the world swimming championships later this month in Singapore. That's amazing. But her age is only part of the picture. Not only is she very young, but her times in three events this year are among the best in the world. And here's the kicker. Those times would have been very close to medals in last year's Paris Olympics. Again, she's 12. That's a sixth- or seventh-grade student depending on the school system. Not yet a teenager. 'I think it's a great story. I don't know where it will lead,' Greg Meehan, the national team director for the American squad in Singapore, told The Associated Press. As promising young swimmers do, Yu is clocking personal bests almost each time she competes. Her PBs are more than just confidence boosters, they put her in sight of records, medals and stardom. Yu has qualified in the 200- and 400-meter individual medleys, and the 200 butterfly. She could win a medal in all three. Her time of 2 minutes, 10.63 seconds in the 200 IM at the Chinese championships in May was the fastest ever by a 12-year-old swimmer — male or female — according to World Aquatics, the global governing body of the sport. That was only the start. Her time of 2:06.83 in the 200 butterfly in the same meet would have placed her fourth in last year's Paris Olympics. It was the fifth-fastest time in the world this year and would have been good enough for gold in the 2024 worlds. Again, Yu is 12 years old. To cap off the national championships she swam 4:35.53 in the 400 IM, the fifth-fastest time of the year in that event. That also would have been good for fourth place last year at the Olympics, just 0.6 behind bronze medalist Emma Weyant of the United States. The 400 IM is dominated by 18-year-old Canadian Summer McIntosh, who holds the world record of 4:23.65 and the 200 IM mark of 2:05.70. She's a generational talent, the winner of three gold medals in Paris. Gold medallist Summer McIntosh of Canada during the medal ceremony after the Women's 400m Individual Medley Final of the Paris Olympic Games. | Photo Credit: GETTY IMAGES By comparison, Yu at 12 is swimming roughly 15 seconds faster in the 400 IM than McIntosh did at 12, and about 12 seconds faster in the 200 IM. In a 50-meter pool, 12 to 15 seconds would be a half-lap of the pool, depending on the event. Yu is not the first young swimmer to excel, but it's how she's doing it — the stunning times and the promise of more to come. Of course there are no guarantees of success, and young swimmers can burn out. Yu said she began swimming at 6 in a water amusement park. 'The summer was too hot, and my dad took me to the water park,' she told China's official Xinhua News Agency. 'I enjoyed the coolness of the water and spent a lot of time in different small pools for kids. One day, a coach approached me and asked if I wanted to swim faster.' The rest is history, as they say, as she explained her event preference. 'Since I am not competitive in the sprint events, I have to choose the 400-meter individual medley and the 200-meter butterfly as my favorites,' Yu told Xinhua. 'My age is currently an advantage and I hope to grow and develop more strength in the future.' Yu trains at the Hebei Taihua Jinye Swimming Club in Hengshui City, south of Beijing in Hebei Province. Alzain Tareq of Bahrain swam in the 2015 worlds at only 10. She finished last in her event. World Aquatics now has stricter age rules than a decade ago. Swimmers must be at least 14 unless their times meet qualification standards. In effect, this means there is no age limit. Ten-year-old athlete from Bahrain, Alzain Tareq, competes in the preliminary heats of the women's 50m butterfly swimming event at the 2015 FINA World Championships. | Photo Credit: AFP If Yu were to win Olympic gold in three years in Los Angeles, she would be 15. But that wouldn't make her the youngest swimmer to take gold. Kyoko Iwasaki of Japan was 14 years and 6 days old when she won gold in the 200 breaststroke at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. Swimmers tend to peak early, particularly females. The specialty publication and website SwimSwam lists seven swimmers — all women — who won Olympic gold before they turned 15. Three, including Iwasaki, did it in individual events, and four got gold in relays. American superstar Katie Ledecky was 15 years and 139 days when she won the 800 freestyle at the 2012 London Olympics — the first of her nine gold medals over four Olympics. USA's Katie Ledecky celebrates after she broke the World Record in the Women's 400m Freestyle Final during the swimming event at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. | Photo Credit: AFP She's still swimming and is the overwhelming favourite to win the 1,500 meters in Singapore. Ledecky has the top 23 times in history in the event, and also No. 25. For another jolting perspective, consider this. Ledecky's first gold came several months before Yu was born — October 6, 2012. 'I have no idea what it's like to compete abroad,' Yu told Xinhua. 'I really want to experience the world-class competition.' The world is watching.
Al-Ahram Weekly
7 hours ago
- Sport
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Swimming: 12-year-old Yu Zidi of China takes stunning times to the world champs - Omni sports
Yu Zidi of China is only 12 years old and will race at the world swimming championships later this month in Singapore. That's amazing. But her age is only part of the picture. Not only is she very young, but her times in three events this year are among the best in the world. And here's the kicker. Those times would have been very close to medals in last year's Paris Olympics. Again, she's 12. That's a sixth- or seventh-grade student depending on the school system. Not yet a teenager. 'I think it's a great story. I don't know where it will lead,' Greg Meehan, the national team director for the American squad in Singapore, told The Associated Press. The world is watching As promising young swimmers do, Yu is clocking personal bests almost each time she competes. Her PBs are more than just confidence boosters, they put her in sight of records, medals and stardom. Yu has qualified in the 200- and 400-meter individual medleys, and the 200 butterfly. She could win a medal in all three. Her time of 2 minutes, 10.63 seconds in the 200 IM at the Chinese championships in May was the fastest ever by a 12-year-old swimmer — male or female — according to World Aquatics, the global governing body of the sport. That was only the start. Her time of 2:06.83 in the 200 butterfly in the same meet would have placed her fourth in last year's Paris Olympics. It was the fifth-fastest time in the world this year and would have been good enough for gold in the 2024 worlds. Again, Yu is 12 years old. To cap off the national championships she swam 4:35.53 in the 400 IM, the fifth-fastest time of the year in that event. That also would have been good for fourth place last year at the Olympics, just 0.6 behind bronze medalist Emma Weyant of the United States. Faster than McIntosh at 12 The 400 IM is dominated by 18-year-old Canadian Summer McIntosh, who holds the world record of 4:23.65 and the 200 IM mark of 2:05.70. She's a generational talent, the winner of three gold medals in Paris. By comparison, Yu at 12 is swimming roughly 15 seconds faster in the 400 IM than McIntosh did at 12, and about 12 seconds faster in the 200 IM. In a 50-meter pool, 12 to 15 seconds would be a half-lap of the pool, depending on the event. Yu is not the first young swimmer to excel, but it's how she's doing it — the stunning times and the promise of more to come. Of course there are no guarantees of success, and young swimmers can burn out. Started out as fun Yu said she began swimming at 6 in a water amusement park. 'The summer was too hot, and my dad took me to the water park," she told China's official Xinhua News Agency. 'I enjoyed the coolness of the water and spent a lot of time in different small pools for kids. One day, a coach approached me and asked if I wanted to swim faster." The rest is history, as they say, as she explained her event preference. 'Since I am not competitive in the sprint events, I have to choose the 400-meter individual medley and the 200-meter butterfly as my favorites,' Yu told Xinhua. "My age is currently an advantage and I hope to grow and develop more strength in the future.' Yu trains at the Hebei Taihua Jinye Swimming Club in Hengshui City, south of Beijing in Hebei Province. Alzain Tareq of Bahrain swam in the 2015 worlds at only 10. She finished last in her event. World Aquatics now has stricter age rules than a decade ago. Swimmers must be at least 14 unless their times meet qualification standards. In effect, this means there is no age limit. Looking to LA Olympics If Yu were to win Olympic gold in three years in Los Angeles, she would be 15. But that wouldn't make her the youngest swimmer to take gold. Kyoko Iwasaki of Japan was 14 years and 6 days old when she won gold in the 200 breaststroke at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. Swimmers tend to peak early, particularly females. The specialty publication and website SwimSwam lists seven swimmers — all women — who won Olympic gold before they turned 15. Three, including Iwasaki, did it in individual events, and four got gold in relays. American superstar Katie Ledecky was 15 years and 139 days when she won the 800 freestyle at the 2012 London Olympics — the first of her nine gold medals over four Olympics. She's still swimming and is the overwhelming favorite to win the 1,500 meters in Singapore. Ledecky has the top 23 times in history in the event, and also No. 25. For another jolting perspective, consider this. Ledecky's first gold came several months before Yu was born — Oct. 6, 2012. 'I have no idea what it's like to compete abroad," Yu told Xinhua. 'I really want to experience the world-class competition.' The world is watching. (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.) Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Straits Times
7 hours ago
- Straits Times
Every detail counts as S'pore artistic swimmers eye top-10 spots at World Aquatics Championships
SINGAPORE – For artistic swimmers, the competition day begins long before they step onto the pool deck. Hours of preparation go into perfecting every detail, from hairstyling to make-up, before their routines. National artistic swimmer Debbie Soh recalls that the earliest she has had to wake up for a competition was about 4am, which was about two to three hours before her event. While the process varies for each athlete, teammate Rachel Thean begins by tying her hair into a tight ponytail, braiding it and then forming a bun. Then she mixes boiling water with gelatin, which a teammate helps to apply to ensure her hair stays in place during the routine and letting it harden. The process is completed by pinning a headpiece and applying waterproof make-up, including foundation, eyebrow pencil, eyeshadow, lipstick, and using setting spray to keep everything secure. Preparation time varies depending on the event: solo swimmers may need as little as 45 minutes, duets take slightly longer, and team routines with up to eight swimmers can require 1½ to two hours. Once ready, the swimmers proceed to warm up for between 1 and 1½ hours. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Fatal abuse of Myanmar maid in Bishan: Traffic Police officer sentenced to 10 years' jail Singapore Man charged over manufacturing DIY Kpods at Yishun home; first such case in Singapore Singapore HSA launches anti-vaping checks near 5 institutes of higher learning Singapore $7,000 fine for eatery chain involved in ByteDance food poisoning case Singapore Bicycle wheel-inspired care model used to improve trauma outcomes in central S'pore Life 11 new entries on Singapore's Bib Gourmand list, including three re-entries at Old Airport Road Singapore NEA monitoring E. coli at Sentosa beaches after elevated bacteria levels delay World Aquatics events Singapore 15 under police probe for sharing Singpass credentials used in scams The tiny details matter in artistic swimming, which blends performance and athleticism. Thean said: 'For now, the costumes and make-up kind of factor into your artistic impression score. 'Previously it wasn't considered but now it kind of helps with the theme of the routine, so in a way, if your head piece suddenly flaps off or if there's hair covering your face, it will affect the overall artistic impression because it's supposed to be a performance and it's seen as though you didn't manage it well.' National artistic swimmer Rachel Thean (right) applies gelatin to teammate Debbie Soh's hair. ST PHOTO: ARIFFIN JAMAR They have also spent hours in training – up to 60 a week – to refine those details ahead of the 2025 World Aquatics Championships (WCH) in Singapore. They also travelled to World Aquatics Artistic Swimming World Cup events in Europe, Egypt, Canada and China, testing combinations and selecting team members for specific events. The stints have been crucial in preparing the athletes for the unexpected. Soh recounts an incident in Egypt where a sandstorm with 60 kmh winds caused delays and led to the cancellations of music rehearsals, as umbrellas and chairs were blown into the outdoor pool, leaving a thick layer of sand at the bottom. Noting that much of the sport is 'very mental', she said: 'For example if you make a mistake, you cannot let it affect you because you forget the rest of the routine then it's done for, especially with the new scoring system.' For the hosts, their expectations are higher as the athletes stress that it is not only about participation. Thean is aiming to reach the top 10 in the solo events, with the top 12 advancing to the final. The last time a Singaporean reached a final at the world championships was in 2011, when they placed 12th in the free routine combination. Soh, who claimed an overall bronze at the World Aquatics Artistic Swimming World Cup Super Final in Xi'an, China, with Yvette Chong and Kiera Lee in June, is targeting top-10 finishes in both duet and team categories, while also striving for personal best scores. To help achieve her goal, Thean completed her undergraduate studies at the Singapore Management University in December 2024 – seven months ahead of her graduation. Noting that other competitors clock eight to nine hours of training daily, she said: 'I'm not saying that it's quantity over quality, but naturally, when you put in more hours and get more repetitions, the chances of doing better increase.' Beyond personal achievements, the swimmers also hope that the World Championships will raise awareness of the sport in Singapore. Soh, who has been in the sport for 19 years, has witnessed many talented individuals leave before reaching their full potential – many quit to focus on their education and careers owing to the lack of sufficient support to incentivise athletes to pursue sport full time. 'It's difficult to get people inspired and passionate enough to want to stay for a long time so hopefully with more exposure to the sport, more locals will join,' said the 27-year-old, who also hopes the world meet will inspire more men to take up the sport. Sharing similar concerns, Thean noted that although the sport has grown recently, participation remains low compared to more mainstream sports such as swimming and gymnastics. She added: 'Now that world champs is on our home ground and there are many road shows, I hope that more Singaporeans can get a better understanding of the sport and we can also increase participation.'
