Rivals laud ‘phenomenally talented’ 12-year-old swim sensation

The 12-year-old schoolgirl Yu Zidi was labelled “phenomenally talented” by her rivals after narrowly missing out on a medal at swimming’s world championships on Monday.

China’s Yu finished fourth in the women’s 200m medley in Singapore in her first world championships final, as Canadian star Summer McIntosh took gold.

Yu finished the race in 2min 09.21sec, missing out on bronze by 0.06sec.

American Alex Walsh, who took silver, said Yu was “phenomenally talented at such a young age”.

“I think it will be interesting to see how she takes this meet and translates it into the future swims she has because she’s definitely got a really bright future,” said Walsh.

Yu was fastest off the blocks and she was in third place before fading towards the end of the race.

She will also compete in Singapore in the 400m medley and 200m butterfly.

Canada’s Mary-Sophie Harvey, who beat Yu to the bronze, said the Chinese swimmer can be a force at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

“She might have more pressure by the end of the meet because she’s been swimming really well so far,” said Harvey.

“I used to be a junior and I used to think that it’s just gaining experience for the future, and I think going into LA we’re probably going to see her a lot more.”

Yu discovered swimming as a six year old in order to cool off in China’s boiling-hot summers.

Michael Bohl, China’s storied Australian swimming coach, has predicted big things.

“I’ve never seen a 12-year-old that could swim like this,” he told Chinese state broadcaster CCTV in May.

The minimum age at the world championships is 14 but younger swimmers can compete if — like Yu — they meet the qualifying standard.