Yu Zidi from China competes in a women’s 200 meters individual Medley final at the Aquatics World Championship in Singapore. (AP) Yu Zidi, a twelve -year -old Chinese swimmer, created history by becoming the youngest athlete to win the World Championship medal in Singapore. It gained bronze as part of the Chinese team Freestyle Relay 4x200m, although it did not participate in the finals behind the Australia and the United States.Yu competed in a female 4x200m freestyle relay and received a medal as a team member. On Thursday she also took part in the 200m butterfly finals and secured the fourth place.“It’s quite emotional, it’s a nice feeling,” Yu said after her historical success.Her impressive performances in Singapore included fourth place in 200m individual Medley final, which lacked the stage of just 0.06 seconds in what is not considered to be her strongest event. It is also ready to compete in 400m individual mixtures.Yu, who will be 13 years old in October, began to swim at the age of six to beat heat during the Chinese summer months. Her success was brought by a comparison with Danish Inge Soresen, who won the Olympic bronze medal at the age of 12 in the Berlin Games in 1936.However, her participation has triggered a discussion in sports on the physical and mental effects of high -level training at young athletes who are still in development.The current rules of world aquatics set a minimum age at 14 years, but younger swimmers can compete at championships if they meet qualifying standards, as well as YU.
