Move over, veterans – there's a new queen in the pool! 🌊 Yu Zidi, a 13-year-old sensation from Hebei, just rewrote history at China's 15th National Games in Shenzhen this week. Her blistering 2:07.41 finish in the women's 200m individual medley shattered the Asian record previously held by Olympic legend Ye Shiwen since 2012.
This fresh talent has been making waves since before her October birthday, securing her World Championships ticket with a silver medal performance at May's National Championships. Her Singapore showdown in July saw her personal best drop to 2:09.21 – but Tuesday's race proved she's just getting started. 🏆
Facing 2024 gold medalist Yu Yiting, the teen phenom executed a textbook comeback strategy. After trailing by a full second during the butterfly leg, Zidi turned the tide with powerful breaststroke moves before sealing her victory in freestyle. Talk about clutch performance under pressure! 💥
With this win, Zidi becomes the youngest Asian swimmer ever to break a senior continental record. Sports analysts are already calling her "the future of Chinese swimming" – and we're here for every splash of this journey. 🎉
