13-year-old Yu Zidi wins third Asian Games gold, breaks 400m record

China’s 13-year-old swimmer Yu Zidi claimed her third gold medal at the Asian Games, lowering the Games record in the 400 metres by roughly 4.5 seconds from the mark set in 2014 by Ye Shiwen.

Record-breaking swim

China’s teenager Yu Zidi added a third gold medal to her haul at the Asian Games after setting a new Games record in the women’s 400m event. The 13-year-old knocked about 4.5 seconds off the previous Asian Games benchmark, which had stood since 2014 when it was set by fellow Chinese swimmer Ye Shiwen.

A rapid rise

Yu’s performance drew attention for both the margin by which she lowered the standing record and for her age. Her success at a major continental meet underscores the rapid progress of a young athlete who has quickly emerged on the regional stage.

National impact

The victories contribute to China’s dominance in swimming at the Games and are likely to intensify focus on the country’s pipeline of young talent. Coaches and officials will view the results as a sign of depth in the squad heading into future international competitions.

Looking ahead

While the immediate headlines focus on the record and the medal tally, Yu’s achievements will also prompt closer scrutiny of how young swimmers are developed and managed at elite levels. For now, her triple gold haul cements her status as one of the breakout performers at this edition of the Asian Games.