Yu, 12, Becomes Youngest Medallist In Worlds History

Chinese schoolgirl Yu Zidi became nan youngest swimmer successful history to triumph a badge astatine nan World Aquatics Championships arsenic China claimed bronze successful nan relay.

The 12-year-old, who missed Thursday's final, swam successful nan heats of nan women's 4x200m freestyle relay earlier this week and truthful qualified for a medal.

China vanished 3rd successful nan last successful Singapore, down nan United States and winners Australia.

She is nan youngest medallist astatine a awesome world title since Denmark's Inge Sorensen won a bronze badge successful nan 200m breaststroke astatine nan 1936 Olympics, little than a period aft her 12th birthday.

"It feels rather emotional, it's a bully feeling," Yu said.

The schoolgirl, who turns 13 successful October, came adjacent to earning individual glory successful nan women's 200m butterfly last connected Thursday, but narrowly missed retired connected a badge successful 4th place.

In Monday's individual medley final, Yu missed retired connected a badge by 0.06 seconds pinch different fourth-placed finish.

In May, Yu group a world grounds for a 12-year-old successful nan 200m individual medley pinch a clip of 2:10.63, starring World Aquatics to explanation her a "sensation" connected societal media.

Yu's information astatine nan World Championships has divided opinion.

Competitors successful nan championships must beryllium astatine slightest 14 years of property but Yu was permitted introduction because her times met nan association's 'A' standard.

But, while Yu's expertise is not successful question, not everyone is convinced she should beryllium allowed to compete connected nan world shape yet.

The taxable was discussed connected BBC Radio 5 Live pinch four-time world champion swimmer Karen Pickering and Olympic bronze medallist Steve Parry offering differing opinions.

"To spot a youngster spell successful nan events she is doing is connected nan 1 manus astonishing, but it does somewhat raise nan mobility of really agelong has she been training hard?" said Pickering.

"What benignant of training is she doing? What is that doing to her physically?

"I interest astir what it's doing physically to a kid doing that magnitude of training astatine that age. We've seen it pinch gymnasts that are pushed excessively young and nan effect it has connected their assemblage long-term."

Parry, though, said Yu's information was "positive" and had echoes of Sharron Davies, who represented Great Britain astatine nan 1976 Olympics astatine nan property of 13.

"It's a young woman who is 12 years of property and it's correct we are asking questions, but I sewage spanked by a 15-year-old Michael Phelps successful Sydney and he went connected to beryllium nan top swimmer we've ever seen," said Parry.

"You tin person youngsters, whether it beryllium Sharron Davies, Yu aliases Katie Ledecky, but we person sewage to return attraction of their intelligence wellness and make judge they aren't being pushed excessively overmuch physically.

"These young proteges should beryllium celebrated."