Yu Zidi, a remarkable 12-year-old swimmer from China, is set to compete at the upcoming world swimming championships in Singapore later this month. Her participation at such a young age is drawing attention not only for her youth but also for her impressive performance in the pool.

This year, Yu has achieved remarkable times in three different events, positioning her among the best swimmers globally. Notably, her times in these events would not only contend for medals but are also reminiscent of competitive times from the last year’s Paris Olympics.

To put her accomplishments into perspective, Yu, who is still in the sixth or seventh grade, has already established herself as a formidable competitor. Greg Meehan, the national team director for the American squad in Singapore, expressed optimism about Yu’s potential by stating, “I think it’s a great story. I don’t know where it will lead.”

Yu has been clocking personal bests consistently throughout her competitions. Her achievements in the pool extend beyond mere confidence; they place her in pursuit of world records, medals, and potentially stardom. She has secured qualifications in the 200- and 400-meter individual medleys and the 200 butterfly, creating a strong chance for her to win medals across all three events.

In May at the Chinese championships, Yu set a record with her time of 2 minutes, 10.63 seconds in the 200 IM, marking the fastest recorded time ever by a 12-year-old swimmer, regardless of gender, according to World Aquatics. This accomplishment was just the beginning, as her 200 butterfly time of 2:06.83 at the same meet would have earned her a fourth-place finish in last year’s Olympics and ranks as the fifth-fastest time globally this year.

Another significant achievement was her 4:35.53 time in the 400 IM, placing her fifth fastest globally this year and again about 0.6 seconds shy of what would have brought her a bronze medal in Paris. This illustrates her potential prowess in events dominated by older athletes, such as Canada’s Summer McIntosh, who at 18 holds the world record in the 400 IM at 4:23.65.

For context, Yu’s times in the 400 IM at age 12 are considerably faster than McIntosh's performances at the same age by approximately 15 seconds, and she is also about 12 seconds swifter in the 200 IM. Such differences are significant, equating to nearly half a lap in a 50-meter pool.

Although Yu is not the first prodigy in the swimming world, the way she is achieving these times and her promise for more remarkable performances ahead set her apart. However, it is vital to note that early talent does not guarantee future success, as burnout can be a risk for young athletes.

Yu began her swimming journey at age six in a water amusement park. Yu recalled, “The summer was too hot, and my dad took me to the water park. 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.” She went on to choose her competitive events based on her strengths, favoring the 400-meter individual medley and the 200-meter butterfly.

Training at the Hebei Taihua Jinye Swimming Club in Hengshui City, Yu is mindful of the intense pressures that come with her age and talent. Given World Aquatics' stricter age rules in recent years, younger swimmers now have to meet qualification standards to compete, which effectively removes any explicit age limit as long as they meet the criteria.

Looking ahead, if Yu were to capture gold at the Los Angeles Olympics in three years, she would be 15, though that wouldn’t make her the youngest swimmer ever to win Olympic gold. Historical context shows that swimmers often peak early, especially women. Over the years, several female swimmers have achieved Olympic gold before turning 15. Katie Ledecky, a dominant figure in swimming, won her first Olympic gold at just 15 years old.

Yu has shared her excitement about competing at an international level, expressing her desire to experience world-class competition. The upcoming championships in Singapore will be an essential test in her young athletic career as the world closely watches her journey in the sport.