How 12-year-old sensation Yu Zidi stacks up against swimming greats

12-year-old swimming prodigy Yu Zhedi is in the midst of a coming-out party this week at the World Championships in Singapore

She nearly became the youngest medalist in history Monday in the 200-meter individual medley final

And she's got two more events to go. Yu, from the People's Republic of China, first made headlines last year

after missing out on an Olympic qualifying time for Paris 2024 by just two seconds

At the Chinese National Championships in May, she swam an amazing time of 2.10.63 in the 200 meter IM

The fastest time ever by a 12-year-old, male or female. That showing led her to the current stage and a fourth place finish in the same event Monday

You, Shidi of China. She shouldn't be here. She's 12. The governing body of swimming, World Aquatics, has an age limit of 14

However, younger competitors are allowed if their times surpass a qualifying standard

Used times shattered the mark. She began swimming just six years ago and told Chinese Xinhua News Agency she nearly quit last year from exhaustion

But she's found a renewed sense of dedication after qualifying for the world championships

As any 12 might she leans on her lucky cartoon dog swimming cap When I feel tired during training I encourage myself by imagining how cool it would be to compete internationally in a swimsuit adorned with the national flag and my doggy cap

This thought recharges me with energy, you said. She's still got some work to do if she's going to catch reigning Olympic champion Summer McIntosh

The 18-year-old Canadian has already won the 200-meter individual medley and the 400-meter freestyle gold medals in Singapore

and she's going for a record-tying five golds. I was so in control that entire race and super strong and long

And overall, it just felt like I had my complete endurance, so I'm really excited for the 800 freestyle later on in the meet

McIntosh also started young, making her debut at 14. Less than four years later, she won three gold medals

and a silver at the 2024 Paris Games. Legend Katie Ledecky, the most decorated female Olympic swimmer in history

started at 15 and she's still going strong at age 28 hoping to add to her 14 total medals in los

angeles yu jiddy will almost certainly be competing against both in 2028 when she'll be 15 years old

yu is due to compete in the 200 meter butterfly heat races starting on wednesday and the 400 meter

individual medley later in the week those are considered her strongest events and after her

performance Monday, a medal in either of those races is a possibility

For Straight Arrow News, I'm Chris Francis