13 years old and just 0.40 away from a WORLD RECORD | Yu Zidi Asian Record

Before the start of the 2026 Asian Games Yu Zidi was one of the biggest names I was looking out for, it’s an easy and OBVIOUS pick. During last summers world championships she made history becoming the youngest finalist in world championships history finishing 4th in three different events at just 12 years old. In 2026 after turning 13 she got even faster, and now we’ve seen her at her fastest yet as she just ripped an ABSURDLY quick time in the 200 IM and in the process reclaimed the Asian record in the event, broke the world junior record, and swam a time faster than any Olympic gold winning time in the event’s history.