Thirteen-year-old Yu Zidi of Hebei emerged as a rising star at China's 15th National Games, winning two golds, a silver and a bronze.
by sportswriter Gao Meng
SHENZHEN, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- At Shenzhen Universiade Sports Center's Aquatics Hall, 13-year-old Yu Zidi returned to the pool that has quietly witnessed her rapid rise.
Over five days at China's 15th National Games, the Hebei teenager collected two gold medals, one silver and one bronze.
On Tuesday, she clocked two minutes 7.41 seconds in the women's 200m individual medley, surpassing the Asian record that had stood since Ye Shiwen set it at the 2012 London Olympics.
"I didn't even notice it at first," she admitted, mimicking her reaction with excited gestures only a 13-year-old could manage. "I was staring at the screen, trying to read my time, then I heard someone say 'Asian record.' I thought, 'Who broke it?' Then I realized it was me."
Moments later, fellow finalist Yu Yiting reached across the lane rope to hug her. "She told me, 'That was amazing.' I just wanted to cry," Yu Zidi recalled, her eyes reddening again at the memory. "I don't know why - the emotions just overwhelmed me."
Ye Shiwen also congratulated her, saying, "Records are meant to be broken. I'm happy for her to start her own era. It's exciting to see such strong new forces emerging in Chinese swimming."
International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Kirsty Coventry, who competed in lane eight of the 2012 London Olympic final, echoed the sentiment.
"The development shows that we're moving forward, and I believe it's not the only record to be broken. It's good to see younger athletes breaking these records. I think it's exciting to see young athletes looking at world records or national records and not being afraid to challenge them."
A day later, she teamed with Li Bingjie, Zhang Ke and Ma Yonghui to secure the 4x200m freestyle relay title.
"I'm really happy. I'm thankful the older sisters trusted me with this chance," she said shyly after the relay. "Compared with individual events, relays make me even more excited."
While the significance of the moment is still sinking in, Yu herself may not fully grasp its weight. But she understands one thing clearly: returning to this pool has changed her. "I feel more and more confident," she said.
Her rise over the past six months has been extraordinary. In May, at the same Shenzhen venue, she swam 2:10.63 at the national championships, recognized as the fastest ever by a 12-year-old in the event, a time that earned her a ticket to her first World Championships.
"I didn't know much about it," she admitted. "I just wanted to swim my best."
In Singapore, competing against the world's top athletes, she finished fourth in the 200m individual medley with a personal best of 2:09.21, missing the podium by just 0.06 seconds.
But she left with valuable lessons and new ambitions. "The Worlds were more intense than I expected," she said then. "The warm-up pool was packed, but I adapted. I want to learn from Summer McIntosh's turns. I want to be as strong as she is."
Race by race, her confidence grows. "It's evident in my times," she noted. "I try to give everything, but I don't want to put too much pressure on myself. I just go all out."
For a 13-year-old, the world remains refreshingly simple: a clear pool, a few lane lines, and the desire to swim with all her heart. ■
