Yu Zidi Wins Asian Games Butterfly at 13
Tuesday, September 22, 2026162 words3 minutes210 reads
At 13, Chinese swimmer Yu Zidi has won a major Asian Games title. On September 20, she took gold in the women's 200-metre butterfly at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre in Japan. Her time was 2 minutes 5.08 seconds, a Games record.
Yu led from the start to the finish. She beat the previous record of 2:05.57, set by Zhang Yufei at the Hangzhou Asian Games. That made Yu 0.49 seconds quicker than the old mark.
Her response was calm. Yu said the swim was only "so-so" and that she hoped to go faster. She said she needs to lower her head earlier, reach farther forward and improve her leg movement. These small details are part of technique.
Young athletes can achieve remarkable results, but a record does not mean their work is finished. Yu's words show that training can continue after a gold medal. At the same time, adults around young athletes need to support their learning, health and life outside sport.
