Yu Zidi hails from Baoding, Hebei Province, China. |
She began her swimming journey at the tender age of six, excelling particularly in technical events like the medley and butterfly. |
An early encounter with a swim coach at a water park during a summer vacation steered her towards competitive swimming. |
By the time she turned 9, she had relocated to Hengshui for formal training at the Hebei Taihua Jinye Swimming Club, which also supported her education and living arrangements. |
At just 11 years old, she clinched multiple national junior titles in China and made headlines by qualifying for senior-level national competitions. |
Her aspiration to compete in the 2024 Summer Olympics came close when she managed a time just shy of the qualifying mark in the individual medley. |
During the national championships, she achieved remarkable personal bests that aligned with World Aquatics ‘A’ qualifying standards, despite her young age. |
She made history as the youngest Chinese swimmer to complete the 200 m Individual Medley under 2:10. |
Trained by Olympic medalist Li Bingjie, who she looks up to as an idol, she has also garnered international attention for her swimming prowess. |
An impressive performance at the 2025 World Aquatics Championships has set benchmarks for young swimmers, establishing her as a formidable competitor on the international stage. |