Who is Yu Zidi? Meet China’s 12-year-old swimming sensation

Yu Zidi is a 12-year-old Chinese swimmer who is making her debut at the 2025 World Aquatics Championships in Singapore.

Yu is the second youngest competitor in the history of the championships and in her debut event she reached the final of the 200m individual medley.

Yu, who took up swimming at the age of six after meeting a coach during a family trip to a water park, finished fourth and only outside the medals by 0.06 seconds.

Typically at the World Aquatics Championships all competitors must be at least 14, but Yu was permitted entry due to her times meeting the association’s “A” standard.

Ahead of the 2024 Olympics, Yu attempted to qualify as part of China’s team at the games for the 400m individual medley event, but finished just under two-and-a-half seconds outside of the qualifying time.

During the Chinese swimming trials earlier this year, Yu’s 400m individual medley time of 4:35.53 would have positioned her fourth in the same event at the Paris Games.

Yu has been trained by team-mate and Olympic medallist Li Bingjie, who is her idol. Li has also been described by Yu’s “older sister”.

As well as competing in the 200m individual medley at the Singapore Sports Hub, Yu is also taking part in the 200m butterfly event.

In May, Yu was hailed a “sensation” by World Aquatics on social media after she set a world record for a 12-year-old in the 200m individual medley with a time of 2:10.63.

This article is the latest from BBC Sport’s Ask Me Anything team.