[Rising Star] 12-Year-Old Yu Zidi Shocks World Championships—IOC Hails Her as “The Next Summer McIntosh”

🏊‍♀️ Just 12, Yet Already in the Finals

Yu Zidi outpaced many seasoned competitors to secure a place in the final of the 200m butterfly. Earlier, she narrowly missed a podium finish in the 200m individual medley final, clocking 2:09.21—just 0.06 seconds shy of a medal.

Despite her youth, Yu remains humble: “I’m not a genius,” she said. “I just really love swimming.”

🌟 IOC: She’s Rewriting Records and Defying Age

The IOC made a rare public statement praising Yu Zidi, calling her “one of the fastest young swimmers in the world.” The organization drew comparisons to Canadian prodigy Summer McIntosh, who earned 3 golds and 1 silver at the Paris Olympics.

Yu’s journey is remarkable—she only began swimming at age 6. In a national championship this May, she clocked 2:10.63 in the 200m IM, the best time ever recorded by any 12-year-old, male or female.

🔓 Age Limit Waived Just for Her

Normally, only swimmers aged 14 and above are eligible to compete at the World Championships. But Yu’s performances were so outstanding that she was granted a rare exception. Now not only is she competing, but she’s become a frequent headline star.

IOC officials also noted her 400m individual medley time is 15 seconds faster than McIntosh’s at the same age—a virtually unheard-of difference in elite swimming.

💬 More Than a Swimmer—She’s an Inspiration

Yu Zidi’s meteoric rise is shattering assumptions about age and ability in professional sports. Her story is one of talent, discipline, and pure love for the sport, inspiring a new generation of swimmers around the world.

As she continues to dominate on the world stage, the question now is:
Will Yu Zidi become even greater than McIntosh?