12-Year-Old Yu Zidi Bound for World Champs After Clocking 2:10.63 in 200 IM
While familiar names Qin Haiyang and Yu Yiting combined for three victories on the second night of finals at the Chinese National Championships, it was a 12-year-old who produced the finest performance of the night. Yu Zidi, who won’t turn 13 years old until October, finished second in the 200-meter individual medley, a time of 2:10.63 landing the youngster a trip to this summer’s World Championships in Singapore.
While young stars have been commonplace in women’s swimming through the years, a 12-year-old clocking 2:10 in the 200 IM is downright stunning. Yu was featured last year in the South China Morning Post after recording a time of 4:40.97 in the 400 individual medley as an 11-year-old. According to the World Aquatics database, her 11-year-old year also included a 4:10.73 in the 400 freestyle.
On the way to qualifying for the World Champs, Yu opened her swim with a butterfly split of 27.47. She made the turn after the backstroke leg in 1:00.45 and touched at the 150-meter mark in 1:39.89. Yu could add to her schedule for the World Champs with the 400 IM still on the schedule.
Perhaps the most impressive 12-year-old in the history of the sport is South African Karen Muir, who set a world record in the 110-yard backstroke in 1965. Muir is recognized as the youngest world-record setter in swimming.