China's teenage swimming star keeps rewriting the record books. At just 13 year old, Yu Zidi won her second gold of the 2026 Asian Games on Monday, taking the 200-meter individual medley with a near-record time in Nagoya, Japan.
Asian Games Champion Threatens 200-Meter Record
Yu Zidi clocked 2 minutes, 6.10 seconds — the second-fastest time in history. She trails only Canada's Summer McIntosh, whose world record of 2:05.70 now looms as Yu's clear target. Yu opened the continental competition a day earlier with an Asian Games record in the 200-meter butterfly, and she still plans to swim the 400 IM later in the week.
"I felt the same. I'm just as excited today," Yu said. "I don't want to get too confident. I'll just keep working hard."
Yu Zidi Shifts Focus to 2028 LA Olympics
Of course, Yu Zidi is no stranger to the spotlight.
At last year's World Championships, she became the youngest finalist in the event's history at age 12, placing fourth in three races and earning a relay bronze. Earlier this year, she beat 2024 Olympic silver medalist Regan Smith in the 200 fly.
Now Yu points toward the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles — where a showdown with McIntosh likely awaits.
