13-year-old Chinese swimming prodigy Yu Zidi cruises through heats at Asian Games
What it is about
Who published it, and when
16 reports left out of the cascade - too little in common with the story to place
How it spread - 34 original reports, 2 reprints
Sun, 20 September 2026
5 reports- Japan Times03:14first to report
Yu became the youngest swimming world championships medalist in history last year when she won bronze as a 12-year-old as part of China's 4x200-meter freestyle relay team.
- Channel News Asia03:36
Yu Zidi took gold in the women's 200m butterfly with a record time on Sunday as China won six of the day's seven finals.
- Channel News Asia03:36
Yu Zidi opened her Asian Games campaign at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre by breezing through her women's 200m butterfly heat.
- Times of India09:42
The 13-year-old, who turns 14 next month, clocked 2:05.08 to break the Asian Games record set by China's Zhang Yufei at the Hangzhou Games three years ago. Zhang had won the event in 2:05.57, and Yu finished nearly half a second quicker.
- Libération (France)13:21Natation : la Chinoise Yu Zidi remporte l’or et établit un nouveau record d’Asie… à 13 ans seulement
La prodige s’est illustrée ce dimanche 20 septembre, en 200 mètres papillon. L’an dernier, elle était devenue la plus jeune médaillée (en bronze) à des championnats du monde. Ce qui suscite l’inquiétude d’observateurs pour son équilibre personnel.
Mon, 21 September 2026
7 reports- Times of India11:21
- Channel News Asia11:26
Yu gave another glimpse of her enormous potential in Tokyo as she scorched to victory in the women's 200m individual medley in 2min 06.10sec, 0.72sec faster than the previous Asian Games record.
- Al Jazeera English13:19
The teen phenomenon won her second gold medal in the 200m medley in 2:06.10 to set a new Games and Asian record.
- tportal (Croatia)14:41
Kinesko čudo od djeteta, Yu Zidi, u ponedjeljak je – sa samo 13 godina – isplivala drugo najbrže vrijeme u povijesti discipline 200 metara mješovito, pobijedivši u finalu na Azijskim igrama u Japanu.
1 reprint
- Slobodna Dalmacija (Croatia)21 Sept, 21:41their copy
- Libération (France)16:57
Le cas de Yu Zidi, jeune phénomène de la natation qui enchaîne les records, fait réagir les observateurs. Mais il n’est pas si rare. La figure des enfants prodiges fascine encore, mais quid de leur santé physique et mentale ?
- Vecernji list (Croatia)17:30
Nakon što je u nedjelju već osvojila zlato na 200 m leptir, Yu je dominirala u svom drugom finalu u dva dana s vremenom 2:06,10 minuta, zaostavši pritom samo 40 storinki sekundi za svjetskim rekordom koji je prošle godine postavila Kanađanka Summer McIntosh (2:05,70).
- Anadolu Agency (AA)19:05
Yu Zidi sets new Asian Games record in women's 200-meter individual medley
Tue, 22 September 2026
2 reports- Japan Times03:18
Already Asia's fastest in the women's medley at 13, Yu's stunning trajectory raises questions of how much stronger she will be at the Olympics.
- Japan Times06:43
Puyo Puyo joins the Asian Games' esports lineup as one of 13 titles contested across 11 medal events.
Wed, 23 September 2026
8 reports- Japan Times02:10
The 17-year-old Yumeki Kojima's triumph in the men's 400-meter individual medley set a Games record of 4 minutes, 7.02 seconds.
- Channel News Asia10:29
- Channel News Asia10:29
- Al Jazeera English10:50
The 13-year-old beat the previous 400m Asian Games record, set by China’s Ye Shiwen in 2014, by about 4.5 seconds.
- tportal (Croatia)12:56
Yu Zidi, 13-godišnje kinesko plivačko čudo, osvojila je treću zlatnu medalju na Azijskim igrama kojima je domaćin glavni japanski grad
1 reprint
- Slobodna Dalmacija (Croatia)23 Sept, 13:52their copy
- 24sata (Croatia)13:00
13-godišnja Yu Zidi ruši rekorde u Japanu! Nakon dvije pobjede uzela je i treće zlato, a u 400 m mješovito srušila rekord Azijskih igara
- Vecernji list (Croatia)13:36
Ranije na ovom natjecanju Yu Zidi je pobijedila na 200 mješovito isplivavši drugi najbolji rezultat u povijesti ove discipline
- DW Top Stories14:07
Three gold medals and three Asian Games records have catapulted China's Yu Zidi, 13, into the sporting spotlight. She is far from the first teen prodigy, but should teens be competing at elite level?
Thu, 24 September 2026
4 reports- Japan Times02:51
Yu won gold in all three individual events she entered at the Asian Games.
- Japan Times02:51
Yu won gold in all three individual events she entered at the Asian Games.
- Channel News Asia10:09
- Channel News Asia10:16
Sat, 26 September 2026
1 report- Japan Times08:35
Yuki Kurihara is the youngest athlete in Japan's Asian Games history.
Sun, 27 September 2026
1 report- Channel News Asia14:32
Thu, 1 October 2026
1 report- Japan Times04:10
The 18-year-old outperformed China's Yang Siqi in the women's final, earning the inaugural gold and a provisional place at the 2028 Olympics.
Sun, 4 October 2026
1 report- Times of India11:19
Yu Zidi, a 13-year-old swimmer from China, set multiple records and won three gold medals at the Asian Games. Puripol Boonson, a 20-year-old sprinter from Thailand, achieved a 100m-200m double with four record-breaking performances. Both athletes earned the titles of Female and Male Most Valuable Players for their remarkable achievements. Their performances established them as promising stars in Asian sports moving forward.
Mon, 5 October 2026
1 report- Al Jazeera English05:12
China’s Zhang Zhanshuo, 19, finished with seven gold medals while compatriot Yu Zidi won three record-breaking golds.
Thu, 8 October 2026
2 reports- chinadaily.com.cn23:21
Moments after China's Chen Yuanjiang crossed the finish line first in the men's 110-meter hurdles final at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, he let out a cry that was indicative of the nation's new youthful sporting confidence.
- chinadaily.com.cn23:21
Moments after China's Chen Yuanjiang crossed the finish line first in the men's 110-meter hurdles final at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, he let out a cry that was indicative of the nation's new youthful sporting confidence.
Sat, 10 October 2026
1 report- South China Morning Post10:00
A former Chinese Olympic diving champion’s quest for independence has struck a chord online, after her mother’s controlling behaviour drew widespread criticism following their appearance on a reality TV show. Zhang Jiaqi, 22, grew up in a modest Beijing family and went on to win gold in the women’s synchronised 10-metre platform event at the Tokyo Olympics in 2020. Her youthful charm and exceptional talent have also attracted 3.3 million followers on Douyin. Zhang began diving at six, won her...