Once, beating a 12-year-old opponent in elite swimming might have been considered routine. But when the opponent is China’s Yu Zidi, it has become an unexpected mark of prestige.
At the recent world championships, only the very best in women’s swimming managed to outpace Yu — who stunned the sport by becoming the youngest medallist in the 52-year history of the event.
While her talent drew admiration worldwide, Yu’s age also reignited debates about the ethics of allowing someone so young to compete at the highest level. In a sport where both mental and physical demands can overwhelm even seasoned adults, her breakthrough stirred unease among some child protection advocates.
“Twelve is incredibly young in swimming,” said author Linda Flanagan, a critic of children competing in elite sports. “A 12-year-old doesn’t train like an 18- or 20-year-old — their bodies simply aren’t ready for that workload. And emotionally, it’s not in their best interest. Psychologists stress the importance of variety in childhood, so kids don’t grow into narrowly defined individuals.”
Young swimmers are not entirely rare, especially in women’s competition where peak performance often comes earlier than in men’s. Historical examples include Denmark’s Inge Sorensen, who won a 200m breaststroke bronze at the 1936 Berlin Olympics at the age of 12 — still the youngest medallist in an individual Olympic event. Britain’s Sharron Davies swam for her country at 11 and made her Olympic debut at 13 in Montreal in 1976.
Davies, far from sharing concerns about Yu’s welfare, believes the young Chinese swimmer — who won a relay bronze and placed fourth in three individual events on her debut — would have relished the moment.
“It’s a complete misconception that she would have been extremely nervous,” Davies told the media. “In fact, it would have been the opposite — it would have been a thrill.”
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