The world of swimming is debating whether Yu Zidi's age is too early - Photo: AFP
Yu Zidi is not only participating in the 2025 World Aquatics Championships (WCH) to learn. The Chinese swimming prodigy is also coming to Singapore to challenge for records.
Previously, this female student caused a surprise when she qualified for the final round of the 200m individual medley. She excellently finished fourth and regretfully missed out on the medal when she was only 0.06 seconds behind the third place finisher, in an event that is not considered her forte.
The winner of this event was Canada's Summer McIntosh - an athlete who competed in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics when she was just 14 years old and won three gold medals in Paris last summer at the age of 17.
On July 30, Yu once again attracted attention when he competed with his senior McIntosh in the final of the 200m butterfly event. The Chinese prodigy will also compete in the 400m medley event this weekend.
Yu Zidi, who turns 13 in October, has drawn comparisons to the legendary Inge Sorensen. At the age of 12, the Danish swimmer became the youngest ever Olympic medalist in swimming, winning bronze at the 1936 Berlin Games.
When asked if she was a "genius," Yu herself answered frankly: "Not really. It's all the result of hard work."
too early
While Yu's performance was impressive and she could well have won a medal, not everyone thought she should compete in Singapore.
Some in the sports world have questioned the psychological and physical impact on the Chinese swimmer of having to train and compete at a high level at an age when she is still developing.
According to World Aquatics regulations, the minimum age is 14 but younger athletes can still compete in the championship if they meet the standards, as in Yu's case.
Yu Zidi's innocence at the age of 12 is what fans want to see - Photo: AFP
Christian Hansmann, the sports director of German swimming, called her participation in Singapore controversial. "In my opinion, putting a 12-year-old girl in front of 5,000 spectators at a world championships with a lot of pressure from the media and coaches is too early," Hansmann said.
French swimmer Lilou Ressencourt admitted it was “frustrating to be beaten by a girl 10 years younger than me”. And she said she was surprised by Yu’s speed at such a young age. She also worried about Yu’s physical and mental health.
"I'm 22 and facing a world championship, even a French championship, is sometimes difficult. I tell myself that at 12 you have a heavy responsibility. That's not normal."
Finding balance
The presence of the Chinese prodigy at the 2025 World Championships could force World Aquatics (swimming’s governing body) to review its regulations, with CEO Brent Nowicki admitting they were surprised someone as young as Yu was fast enough to qualify.
Nowicki said World Aquatics felt good about its athlete protections, but acknowledged that Yu’s case could force them to reassess the rules.
Yu Zidi is expected to be the new star of Chinese swimming - Photo: REUTERS
“She is a wonderful girl and has a great future ahead of her. But obviously we have to make sure that we don't upset the balance. And we have to be careful about that.”
Other sports have struggled with similar age issues. In 2022, figure skating’s governing body voted to raise the minimum age to compete professionally from 15 to 17, months after a doping scandal involving Russian teenager Kamila Valieva.
Yu Zidi has a bright future ahead of her in the “green race”. Perhaps with her outstanding talent, she can become a world or Olympic champion. However, without the right method, she will become the next name to fall into the situation of “blooming early and fading quickly”.
Chinese swimming needs to take concrete action to nurture and develop its prodigy in the right direction. Because the challenge for Yu Zidi is not really underwater but the “traps” in society.
Source: https://tuoitre.vn/boi-loi-the-gioi-day-song-vi-than-dong-12-tuoi-20250731221358287.htm
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