Thirteen-year-old Chinese swimmer Yu Zidi set an Asian Games record in Tokyo by winning the women’s 200m butterfly final in 2min 05.08sec on Sunday, marking the first major individual title of her career less than two years before the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Thirteen-year-old Chinese swimmer Yu Zidi captured the women’s 200m butterfly crown on the opening full day of competition at the Asian Games in Tokyo, clocking a Games-record 2min 05.08sec. The schoolgirl, who turns 14 the following month, shaved nearly half a second off the previous mark set three years prior by compatriot Zhang Yufei, finishing more than three seconds ahead of silver medallist Chang Mohan according to reporting from India Today.
The victory launched an extraordinary campaign for the teenager, who returned to the pool on Monday to claim a second gold medal in the women’s 200-meter individual medley with an Asian record of 2 minutes, 6.10 seconds. Despite her historic run, Yu offered a deadpan assessment of her opening performance after collecting her medal, telling reporters, It was only so-so, as noted by The Guardian.
Building Toward Los Angeles 2028: Yu’s Rapid Ascent
Yu is no stranger to elite international competition. At the 2025 World Championships, she became the youngest medallist in swimming world championships history when she secured a bronze as part of China’s relay team at just 12 years old. Her 200m butterfly time places her within striking distance of international benchmarks, sitting less than four seconds behind Summer McIntosh’s world record of 2:01.65.
Reflecting on her second gold medal performance, Yu explained that she entered the individual medley without a specific target time in mind. I didn’t know beforehand what time I would swim, she said, pointing to her coach’s instructions as the decisive factor. The most important thing was the technical details my coach gave me.
Established competitors have taken note of the teenage phenomenon. Hong Kong’s Siobhan Haughey, who successfully defended her title in the women’s 200m freestyle in 1:54.96, praised the rising star. It’s so amazing to see young swimmers swim that fast, and she’s only 13, so I’m sure she still has a long way to go, Haughey observed, as reported by Xinhua.
China Dominates the Pool Amid Dead Heats and Relay Drama
China asserted early pre-eminence across the swimming program, claiming six of the seven titles on the opening night in Tokyo. Yet Monday brought fierce challenges and rare shared honors. In the men’s 100m breaststroke, Japan’s hotly tipped Shin Ohashi and China’s Dong Zhihao tied for gold after both touched the wall in 58.64sec. World champion Qin Haiyang rounded out the podium with a bronze in 59.01.
Photo: channelnewsasia.com
“I’m really happy to get a gold but it was a tie so it’s a little frustrating,” said Ohashi. “The feeling is 50-50.”
Photo: nzherald.co.nz
Shin Ohashi, Swimmer
The aquatic competition also featured veteran milestones and dramatic relays. Xu Jiayu successfully defended his men’s 50m backstroke title in a Games-record 24.04 seconds, completing a backstroke double for the third consecutive Asian Games. The 30-year-old veteran credited the national team’s updated training flexibility for extending his career toward the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
I can train more freely and relax more in Hangzhou.
Xu Jiayu, Swimmer
The evening sessions culminated in the men’s 4x200m freestyle relay, where China overhauled Japan on the final lap. Anchor swimmer Zhang Zhanshuo erased a deficit of nearly two seconds with a 1:42.9 split, securing an Asian record of 7:00.17. Teammate Pan Zhanle noted that the relay helped him rediscover his top competitive form.
Typhoon Disruptions and Broader Asian Games Challenges
Away from the aquatics venue in Tokyo—where events unfold alongside competitions in Nagoya and Aichi prefecture—organizers faced logistical hurdles from the outset. The Games opened with Emperor Naruhito declaring the event open before a large number of empty seats at the 30,000-capacity stadium in Nagoya. Accommodating more than 11,000 athletes and 6,000 officials forced organizers to bypass a traditional athletes’ village, housing competitors instead across hotels, the Costa Serena cruise ship, and temporary container-style huts.
Who is Yu Zidi? 13-year-old Chinese swimmer who smashed the Asian Games record |Sports Today
International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry inspected the temporary housing and called the huts beautiful while conceding they were a little tighter than accommodations at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. Compounding the opening-week pressures, an incoming typhoon threat soaked Tokyo, forcing the closure of the equestrian venue and postponing those events by a day.
With Typhoon Dujuan forecast to bring strong winds and heavy rain, organizers and athletes must navigate both weather disruptions and a packed fortnight of competition. Action across more than 40 sports continues toward the closing ceremony on October 4, with pivotal qualification places for the 2028 Olympics remaining at stake.
🇨🇳🦋13-year-old Yu Zidi wins 200m butterfly gold at Aichi Nagoya 2026 in 2:05.08 — a new Games record
