World Aquatics Championships: China’s women claim relay bronze, Yu gets first medal
12-year-old helps team qualify third fastest for final of women’s 4x200m freestyle relay in Singapore; finishes fourth in 200m butterfly
Swimming prodigy Yu Zidi has won her first medal at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore, despite not swimming in the final of the women’s 4x200metres freestyle relay on Thursday.
The 12-year-old competed in the morning heats, helping China qualify third fastest, and then watched from the side of the pool as her teammates took bronze in a time of seven minutes, 42.99 seconds.
Australia claimed gold in 7:39.35, with the USA second in 7:40.01.
“It feels quite emotional, it’s a nice feeling,” Yu said of being selected for the relay team after the morning heats. “It’s quite nice [being in Singapore]. I’m hoping to improve on my personal bests.”
Earlier in the evening, Yu missed out on her first individual medal by fractions of a second, finishing fourth in the final of the 200m butterfly.
Yu came home in 2:06.43, while Canadian Summer McIntosh grabbed gold in 2:01.99. American Regan Smith claimed silver in 2:04.99, followed by Australian Elizabeth Deckers, whose 2:06.12 was just 0.31 seconds ahead of the Chinese swimmer.