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Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
'Never seen that': Swimming world in disbelief after 12yo does the unthinkable
Yu Zidi is the talk of the swimming world after the 12-year-old narrowly missed out on a medal at the world championships in Singapore on Monday night. The Chinese swimmer finished fourth in the women's 200m medley final, with Canadian superstar Summer McIntosh taking the gold. Swimming in her first final at a world championships, Yu finished the race in 2 minutes 09.21 seconds, missing out on bronze by just 0.06s. The 12-year-old was fastest off the blocks and in third place at one stage, but faded a little to miss a medal by the barest of margins. She produced the second-fastest final 50 - only behind gold medallist McIntosh. Her performance on the world stage at just 12 years of age blew the swimming world away. American swimmer Alex Walsh, who took silver, said Yu was "phenomenally talented at such a young age", adding: "I think it will be interesting to see how she takes this meet and translates it into the future swims she has because she's definitely got a really bright future." Canadian rival Mary-Sophie Harvey, who narrowly beat Yu to the bronze, predicted the Chinese swimmer will be a force to be reckoned with in three years time at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. "She might have more pressure by the end of the meet because she's been swimming really well so far," said Harvey. "I used to be a junior and I used to think that it's just gaining experience for the future, and I think going into LA we're probably going to see her a lot more." Yu will also compete in the 400m medley and 200m butterfly in Singapore, but she's already caught the attention of the swimming community. Michael Bohl, the Australian coach who works with the Chinese team, has already predicted big things. "I've never seen a 12-year-old that could swim like this," he told Chinese state broadcaster CCTV in May. World Aquatics actually has a minimum age of 14 for swimmers to compete at the world championships, but younger athletes can gain entry if they meet the qualifying standard. Insane! — Fly High (@Jenniferhsu12) July 28, 2025 Respect — Teater Impian (@ditditgli) July 28, 2025 Yu Zidi 4th at 12 years old..... 😱Congrats to our Canadians!! 🇨🇦🇨🇦 — Cecile (@__bunnyhop) July 28, 2025 Summer McIntosh makes it two gold from two races While Yu captured the attention of the swimming world, McIntosh continued to show her star quality with her second gold of the meet. The 18-year-old Canadian romped to victory in the 400m freestyle on Sunday's opening night, and then surged to gold in the 200m medley. "Going into the race tonight my goal was to put my head on the wall first, so to get that done is good," said the teenage phenomenon after her time of 2min 06.69sec. "I'm not super-happy with the time, but honestly, at a world championship, my goal is just to go as fast as I can." Set to compete in the 400m medley, 200m butterfly and 800m freestyle as well, McIntosh has the chance to join Michael Phelps as the only swimmers to win five individual titles at a single world championships. "Happy with the gold and hoping to keep up my streak next time," she said. Bronze for Australia's Alexandria Perkins Australian swimmer Alexandria Perkins nabbed a bronze medal in the women's 100m butterfly on Monday night after the country's two gold medals on Sunday. World record holder Gretchen Walsh posted a powerful time of 54.73 that gave the 22-year-old a maiden world championship title and brought the US its first gold of the had upstaged the US in both the men's and women's 4x100m freestyle finals on Sunday night. Roos Vanotterdijk of Belgium (55.84) was second in the 100m fly, while Perkins came home fast to nab bronze in a time of 56.33. "I can't be happier with that," an elated Perkins told Channel 9. "It was a new experience being in this final tonight. "I missed out last year at the Olympics, so I'm just really proud of myself for handling my nerves against someone like Gretchen. She's just incredible. She did a phenomenal job." with agencies
Khaleej Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- Khaleej Times
Rivals laud 'phenomenally talented' 12-year-old Chinese sensation
The 12-year-old schoolgirl Yu Zidi was labelled "phenomenally talented" by her rivals after narrowly missing out on a medal at swimming's world championships on Monday. China's Yu finished fourth in the women's 200m medley in Singapore in her first world championships final, as Canadian star Summer McIntosh took gold. Yu finished the race in 2min 09.21sec, missing out on bronze by 0.06sec. American Alex Walsh, who took silver, said Yu was "phenomenally talented at such a young age". "I think it will be interesting to see how she takes this meet and translates it into the future swims she has because she's definitely got a really bright future," said Walsh. Yu was fastest off the blocks and she was in third place before fading towards the end of the race. She will also compete in Singapore in the 400m medley and 200m butterfly. Canada's Mary-Sophie Harvey, who beat Yu to the bronze, said the Chinese swimmer can be a force at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. "She might have more pressure by the end of the meet because she's been swimming really well so far," said Harvey. "I used to be a junior and I used to think that it's just gaining experience for the future, and I think going into LA we're probably going to see her a lot more." Yu discovered swimming as a six year old in order to cool off in China's boiling-hot summers. Michael Bohl, China's storied Australian swimming coach, has predicted big things. "I've never seen a 12-year-old that could swim like this," he told Chinese state broadcaster CCTV in May. The minimum age at the world championships is 14 but younger swimmers can compete if -- like Yu -- they meet the qualifying standard. Meanwhile, McIntosh bagged her second gold at the swimming world championships as a "fragile" Gretchen Walsh defied illness. The 18-year-old Canadian McIntosh romped home in the 400m freestyle on Sunday's opening night in Singapore and gave another demonstration of her huge talent a day later in the 200m individual medley. She came home in 2min 06.69sec, with Alex Walsh of the United States second (2:08.58) and Canada's Harvey third (2:09.15). "Going into the race tonight my goal was to put my head on the wall first, so to get that done is good," said the teenage phenomenon. "I'm not super-happy with the time, but honestly, at a world championship, my goal is just to go as fast as I can." McIntosh will also race in the 400m medley, 200m butterfly and 800m freestyle in Singapore. She is on track to join Michael Phelps as the only swimmer to win five individual titles at a single world championships. "Still happy with the gold and hoping to keep up my streak next time," she said. Eyes on LA 2028 China's Qin Haiyang set his sights on glory at Los Angeles 2028 after reeling in Olympic champion Nicolo Martinenghi to reclaim his 100m breaststroke crown. Qin recovered from a slow start to win in 58.23sec, beating Italy's Martinenghi (58.58) and Kyrgyzstan's Denis Petrashov (58.88). Qin swept all three breaststroke races at the 2023 world championships in Japan, breaking the 200m world record. But he crashed and burned at last year's Paris Olympics, finishing seventh after leading the 100m breaststroke final at the turn. "I have a lot of anticipation for LA 2028," said Qin, after the 26-year-old delivered China's first swimming gold medal of the championships. Li Bingjie won silver for China in the women's 400m freestyle on Sunday. France's Maxime Grousset came through at the death to win the 50m butterfly gold by a fingertip from Switzerland's Noe Ponti. The fast and furious race will appear at the Olympics for the first time at Los Angeles.
Reuters
2 days ago
- Sport
- Reuters
I'm no genius, says 12-year-old Yu after just missing podium at worlds
July 28 (Reuters) - Chinese 12-year-old Yu Zidi has become a sensation at the world championships after missing the podium by only 0.06 seconds in the women's 200 metres individual medley in Singapore on Monday, but she was keen not to get caught up in the hype. Yu, who shaved over a second off her personal best to finish in two minutes 9.21 seconds, received high praise from fellow competitors but said she was focusing only on her training. "I will try to get on the podium. But I feel like that's probably impossible. Still, I want to give it a shot. I was one step short today, so I will keep working hard," Yu told CCTV. American silver medallist Alex Walsh said Yu has a bright future. "She's obviously phenomenally talented at such a young age, and I think it'll be interesting to see how she takes this meet and translates it into the future swims," Walsh said. With the media comparing her with prodigies like Canada's Summer McIntosh, who claimed gold in the race, Yu shook her head when asked if she was a genius. "Not really. It's all thanks to hard training," she said. Yu is set to compete in the 200m butterfly on Wednesday, with the 400m medley to follow on Sunday.
France 24
2 days ago
- Sport
- France 24
Rivals laud 'phenomenally talented' 12-year-old swim sensation
China's Yu finished fourth in the women's 200m medley in Singapore in her first world championships final, as Canadian star Summer McIntosh took gold. Yu finished the race in 2min 09.21sec, missing out on bronze by 0.06sec. American Alex Walsh, who took silver, said Yu was "phenomenally talented at such a young age". "I think it will be interesting to see how she takes this meet and translates it into the future swims she has because she's definitely got a really bright future," said Walsh. Yu was fastest off the blocks and she was in third place before fading towards the end of the race. She will also compete in Singapore in the 400m medley and 200m butterfly. Canada's Mary-Sophie Harvey, who beat Yu to the bronze, said the Chinese swimmer can be a force at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. "She might have more pressure by the end of the meet because she's been swimming really well so far," said Harvey. "I used to be a junior and I used to think that it's just gaining experience for the future, and I think going into LA we're probably going to see her a lot more." Yu discovered swimming as a six year old in order to cool off in China's boiling-hot summers. Michael Bohl, China's storied Australian swimming coach, has predicted big things. "I've never seen a 12-year-old that could swim like this," he told Chinese state broadcaster CCTV in May. The minimum age at the world championships is 14 but younger swimmers can compete if -- like Yu -- they meet the qualifying standard.
Malay Mail
2 days ago
- Sport
- Malay Mail
Yu Zidi makes the leap: 12‑year‑old seals world 200m medley final place in Singapore
SINGAPORE, July 28 — The 12-year-old Chinese swimming prodigy Yu Zidi surprised even herself after reaching the final of the 200m medley at the world championships in Singapore on Sunday. The schoolgirl squeezed into the final in Singapore in seventh place in 2min 10.22sec in what is not her best event. Yu, who juggles swimming with her homework, is also competing in the 400m medley and the 200m butterfly against most of the best swimmers on the planet. 'I'm in? Oh, I'm happy about that and I will continue to work harder,' she said after realising she had made Monday's final. 'I hope to find a breakthrough at these world championships and show my potential.' Asked how it felt to be on the world stage, following some eye-catching performances at China's national championships, she said: 'It feels really good. How do I put it... it's much more than my expectations. 'You can feel it's quite intense. I try not to think so much, and just give it my all.' Yu discovered swimming as a small child in order to escape China's fierce summer heat. Yu, who turns 13 in October, previously told Chinese state media: 'I often went to cool off at swimming pools... (and) a coach discovered me.' Olympic champion and world record holder Summer McIntosh qualified fastest for the 200m medley final in 2:07.39 — AFP
