China’s swimming prodigy Yu Zidi bags third gold in Asian Games record

The ۱۳-year-old beat the previous ۴۰۰m Asian Games record, set by China’s Ye Shiwen in ۲۰۱۴, by about ۴.۵ seconds.

China’s ۱۳-year-old swimming sensation Yu Zidi has completed a hat-trick of Asian Games golds with a dominant victory in the ۴۰۰m individual medley, two years before the Los Angeles Olympics.

The schoolgirl powered home in an Asian Games-record ۴ minutes ۲۸.۵۶ seconds (۰۴:۲۸.۵۶) on Wednesday to make it a clean sweep of her three individual events in Tokyo, following victories in the ۲۰۰m butterfly and ۲۰۰m individual medley, also in games-record times.

She beat the previous ۴۰۰m games record set by China’s Ye Shiwen in ۲۰۱۴ by approximately ۴.۵ seconds.

It was the fourth-fastest time in the world this year, with world record-holder Summer McIntosh owning the top three.

With the next Olympics two years away, Yu is shaping up to be a major medal contender at the ۲۰۲۸ Los Angeles Games.

Last year, she became the youngest medallist at the World Aquatics Championships, where she won bronze for China’s relay team at the age of ۱۲, and has since been earmarked for success in the swimming world.

At the same championship, Yu finished fourth by a small margin in three individual events.

In March, the teen sensation built on her growing reputation with a ۲۰۰m butterfly victory over seven-time American Olympic medallist Regan Smith at the China Swimming Open.

At the Asian Games, Yu has dominated the pool and showed another glimpse of her immense talent in the ۴۰۰m individual medley, where she took the lead from the start and finished ۳.۹۵ seconds clear of silver medallist Ke Wenxi of China, with Japan’s Mio Narita finishing third.

In addition to grabbing international headlines, Yu has become a sensation at home following her Asian Games exploits.

The story of her introduction to competitive swimming after being spotted by a coach at a water park, and her struggle with interviews, has gone viral on local social media platforms.

At the games, Yu was asked by the media whether answering questions was the hardest part of competing. She replied, with a giggle: “Every time I just want to float off somewhere else.”