Schoolgirl's class puts shine on China's worlds

With tween sensation Yu Zidi stepping into the global spotlight as some senior stars struggle with a dip in performance, China's swimming squad has completed its first major test of the new Olympic cycle with mixed results.

The eight-day swimming program of the World Aquatics Championships concluded on Sunday with a total of three world and 15 meet records refreshed at the Singapore Sports Hub, where the swimming powerhouses of the United States and Australia continue to reign supreme across all individual and relay events.

China's 12-year-old prodigy Yu, although leaving without an individual medal around her neck, has stolen the show from the record-smashing, gold-mining international stars by reaching the final in all three of her individual events. She made history by becoming the first swimmer of her age to do so, completing an exceptionally strong senior debut never before seen from anyone, male or female.

The fact that she narrowly missed the podium in three individual races, all by hair-thin margins — 0.06 seconds in the 200m medley, 0.31 in the 200m butterfly and 0.50 in 400m medley, respectively, speaks volumes for the staggering potential of the young phenom, who, after probably her coolest summer holiday ever, still has homework to finish.

Although skipping the evening's final session, Yu still became the youngest swimmer in history to win a medal at the worlds on Thursday after contributing to China's women's bronze-winning 4x200m freestyle relay team as a leg in the morning's preliminary heats.

Yu said racing against elite swimmers she once watched on television has provided invaluable experience.

"I learned so much," Yu told Xinhua. "For example, I want to study Summer McIntosh's turns. I really admire her technique. I see her as a role model, and I hope I can become as good as she is someday."