Yu Zidi, a 13-year-old Chinese swimmer, recorded the second-fastest women’s 200m individual medley in history to win the Asian Games title on Monday in Japan.
Yu swam 2:06.10, just missing the world record of 2:05.70 set by Canadian Summer McIntosh in June 2025.
Yu, whose previous best time was 2:07.41, supplanted 2016 Olympic gold medalist Katinka Hosszu of Hungary for second all-time. Hosszu swam 2:06.12 in 2015.
Yu, who turns 14 on Oct. 16, was a breakout swimmer of 2025.
At last year’s World Championships at age 12, she placed fourth in the 200m and 400m IMs won and in the 200m butterfly, all events won by McIntosh.
She became the youngest finalist in World Championships history, according to Olympic historian Bill Mallon of the OlyMADMen.
She also won a bronze medal as a preliminary heat swimmer in the 4x200m freestyle relay.
