A 12-year-old Chinese swimmer who took up the sport in 2019 after being approached at an amusement park pool is hoping to become the youngest medallist at an international meet in 89 years next week. Yu Zidi, born in October 2012, will become one of the youngest swimmers ever to contest a major international meet when she lines up in three events at the World Aquatics Championships from July 27 to August 3. Yu made headlines last year as an 11-year-old after falling two seconds short of making the cut to represent China at the Paris Olympics. Just over a year later, Yu has earned selection on China’s national team and will compete in three events in Singapore – the women’s 200m butterfly, 200m individual medley and 400m individual medley races.