13-Year-Old Yu Zidi Wins Second Gold at Asian Games, Breaks Asian Record

Thirteen-year-old Chinese swimmerYu Zidicontinued to make headlines at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games on Monday, winning her second gold medal of the competition and setting a new Asian record in the women's 200-meter individual medley.

Yu clocked2 minutes 6.10 secondsin the final at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre, finishing ahead of compatriot Yu Yiting, who took the silver medal. Her winning time was0.72 seconds faster than the previous Asian Games recordand just 0.40 seconds outside the world record of 2:05.70 held by Canadian Olympic champion Summer McIntosh.

The victory came only one day after Yu captured her first gold medal at the Games in the women's 200-meter butterfly. She won that event in 2:05.08, breaking the Asian Games record previously set by China's Zhang Yufei.

With two gold medals in two days, Yu has quickly become one of the most closely watched young athletes at the Games.

Another Record-Breaking Performance

The 200-meter individual medley requires swimmers to compete in four different strokes—backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly and freestyle—making it one of the most demanding events in swimming.

Yu maintained a strong pace throughout Monday's final and produced a particularly impressive performance in the latter stages of the race. Her final time of 2:06.10 secured the gold medal and established a new Asian Games record.

The performance was also remarkable for its proximity to the world record. McIntosh currently holds the global mark at 2:05.70, meaning Yu finished only 0.40 seconds behind the Canadian's record.

A Remarkable Rise at Just 13

Yu, born in October 2012, is still 13 years old and will turn 14 next month. Despite her age, she has already competed at the highest levels of international swimming.

At the 2025 World Aquatics Championships in Singapore, Yu became the youngest swimmer to win a World Championships medal after helping China take bronze in the women's 4×200-meter freestyle relay at the age of 12. She also finished fourth in three individual events.

Her rapid progress has continued into 2026. Before the Asian Games, Yu had already established herself as one of China's leading young swimmers, winning major domestic titles and competing against some of the world's top athletes.

Her performance in Nagoya has now taken that development to another level.

More Than Just Her Age

Yu's achievements have attracted international attention not simply because of her age, but because of the level of her performances.

After winning the 200-meter butterfly on Sunday, Yu said she believed there was still room for improvement and hoped to swim faster. Her attitude has attracted attention in the swimming community, where several experienced athletes have praised the emergence of young competitors.

Four-time Olympic medalist Siobhan Haughey has also welcomed the rise of young swimmers such as Yu, saying that the emergence of a new generation is positive for the sport.

At the same time, Yu's rapid rise has prompted discussion about the physical and psychological demands of elite competition at such a young age. International swimming authorities and coaches continue to emphasize the importance of balancing high-level training with athletes' long-term development.

For now, Yu remains focused on competition.

After two days of racing, the 13-year-old has already collected two Asian Games gold medals and broken records in both events. She is also scheduled to compete in the women's 400-meter individual medley later in the Games.

From a teenage newcomer to a double Asian Games champion, Yu Zidi's rise has become one of the early stories of the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.

At only 13, she has already demonstrated that she can compete with Asia's best swimmers. With another event still ahead, the young Chinese swimmer has more opportunities to add to her medal collection—and perhaps write another chapter in her remarkable breakthrough year.