Chinese 12-year-old swimmer Yu Zidi makes her debut on world stage — and doesn’t disappoint

SINGAPORE (AP) — The globe received its first look on Sunday at 12-year-old Chinese prodigy swimmer Yu Zidi, making her debut on the swimming world championships.

She didn’t disappoint on the opening day of the eight-day competitors within the pool in Singapore.

Yu, who has been swimming astounding occasions in China, clocked 2 minutes, 11.90 seconds within the 200-meter particular person medley to advance to the semifinals. Her time was the fifteenth quickest of the 16 qualifiers.

Her time was a bit off her season-best time of two:10.63.

Yu will swim three events in Singapore together with the 400 IM and the 200 butterfly. The 200 IM might be her weakest occasion.

Her occasions within the butterfly and 200 IM within the latest Chinese championships are among the many greatest on this planet this season. Her greatest occasions in these two occasions would have been good for fourth place final yr within the Paris Olympics.

World Aquatics, the governing physique of world swimming, has an age restrict of 14. However, swimmers are allowed to compete if they’re youthful if their occasions surpass a qualifying normal.

Yu wore a black cap and a grey go well with and didn’t converse after the race.

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