12-year-old swimmer sparks debate at world championships

Swimming often sees young talent, but the presence of a 12-year-old Chinese swimmer at the world championships has ignited a debate about age.

12-year-old swimmer Yu Zidi made a splash at the world swimming championships in Singapore this week. She reached the 200m individual medley final earlier this week, finishing 4th, just 0.06 seconds away from a bronze medal. This isn't even Yu's strongest event.

She continued her strong performance on 30/7, reaching the 200m butterfly final and again finishing 4th, only 0.3 seconds from the bronze. Yu will compete in the 400m individual medley later this week.

The Chinese swimmer will turn 13 in October. Yu began swimming at the age of 6 as a way to beat the summer heat. She has been compared to Danish swimmer Inge Sorensen, the youngest swimmer to ever win an Olympic medal, at age 12 in 1936.

When asked this week if she was a "prodigy," Yu replied, "Not really. It’s all a result of hard work."

12-year-old swimmer Yu Zidi competes at the world championships in Singapore this week. Photo: AFP

12-year-old swimmer Yu Zidi competes at the world championships in Singapore this week. Photo: AFP

Despite her impressive performance and medal potential, some have questioned the appropriateness of a 12-year-old competing at the world championships.

Concerns have been raised about the mental and physical impact on Yu of training and competing at such a high level while still going through puberty.

The minimum age to compete under current World Aquatics rules is 14, but younger swimmers can participate if they are fast enough, as Yu has demonstrated.

French swimmer Lilou Ressencourt admitted to being "frustrated at being beaten by a girl 10 years younger than me." She was surprised by Yu's speed at such a young age and also expressed concerns for Yu's physical and mental well-being.

"I’m 22, and the pressure of competing at the world championships, or even the French championships, is immense. It's unusual for a 12-year-old to be able to handle that kind of pressure," Ressencourt said.

12-year-old swimmer Yu Zidi competes in the 200m butterfly at the world championships in Singapore. Photo: AFP

12-year-old swimmer Yu Zidi competes in the 200m butterfly at the world championships in Singapore. Photo: AFP

World Aquatics executive director Brent Nowicki acknowledged the federation's surprise that such a young swimmer as Yu was fast enough to qualify, and said her presence might prompt a review of the regulations.

"She’s phenomenal, and she’s got a bright future. But we also have to make sure that everything is going in the right direction. We don’t want to upset the apple cart, we have to be very careful," Nowicki said, but didn't elaborate on any planned changes the federation might make.