https://www.scmp.com/rss/522103/feed The latest news and top stories on Yu Zidi, a prodigious 12-year-old Chinese swimmer. She has achieved world-leading times, notably the fastest ever 200m individual medley by a 12-year-old, and exceptional performances in the 200m butterfly and 400m individual medley. Her times in these events would have placed highly at last year’s Paris Olympics. Training at Hebei Taihua Jinye Swimming Club, she consistently sets personal bests and has secured qualification for the upcoming World Aquatics... en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Stephy Zhang Stephy Zhang Olympic gold medallist Wang Shun had to settle for silver in the 200 metres individual medley on his 2026 season debut, while the 13-year-old sensation Yu Zidi staged a stunning comeback for her third triumph of the China Open Swimming Championships on Sunday. The only athlete born in the 1990s who competed in his final, the 32-year-old Wang qualified fastest in his group from the morning heats. He began the final strongly but faded towards the end and was overtaken by the talented 21-year-old... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3347501/yu-zidi-completes-golden-hat-trick-china-open-swimming-championships?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3347501/yu-zidi-completes-golden-hat-trick-china-open-swimming-championships?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Mar 2026 14:04:49 +0000 Ada Li Ada Li Hong Kong’s Siobhan Haughey missed out on the women’s 100m breaststroke A final at the China Open on Saturday, after finishing ninth overall in the event. The Olympic medallist clocked 1:09.87 in the heats, which left her outside the top-eight spots for the main final. Haughey competed in the B final, finishing in 1:08.12, a solid showing for a swimmer who normally focuses on freestyle. Earlier in the China Open, Haughey won the 50m and 100m freestyle at the Longgang Universiade Centre... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3347444/hong-kongs-siobhan-haughey-misses-out-main-final-china-open-yu-zidi-sets-new-milestone?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3347444/hong-kongs-siobhan-haughey-misses-out-main-final-china-open-yu-zidi-sets-new-milestone?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 21 Mar 2026 14:35:16 +0000 Stephy Zhang Stephy Zhang Siobhan Haughey won women’s 100m freestyle gold by the narrowest of margins, Tang Qianting shattered her own Asian record twice in a matter of hours and there was more glory for teen sensation Yu Zidi on the opening day of the China Open Swimming Championships. Returning to the site of her National Games glory in Shenzhen, Haughey led from start to finish to beat Australia’s Mollie O’Callaghan by a hundredth of a second on Thursday, touching the wall at Longgang Universiade Centre Natatorium in... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3347155/tang-breaks-own-womens-50m-breaststroke-asian-record-haughey-chasing-100m-freestyle-gold?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3347155/tang-breaks-own-womens-50m-breaststroke-asian-record-haughey-chasing-100m-freestyle-gold?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Mar 2026 09:10:07 +0000 SCMP Sport SCMP Sport Chinese swimming sensation Yu Zidi has been nominated for a Laureus World Sports Award, the youngest athlete to ever receive that honour. The 13-year-old is up for the Breakthrough of the Year Award alongside the likes of NBA star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Formula 1 champion Lando Norris. There has been recognition too for Hong Kong charity Rugby for Good in the Laureus Sport for Good category. Yu made history at the World Aquatics Championships last year, becoming the youngest swimmer to ever... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3345309/chinas-teen-swimming-sensation-yu-becomes-youngest-ever-receive-laureus-nomination?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3345309/chinas-teen-swimming-sensation-yu-becomes-youngest-ever-receive-laureus-nomination?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 Mar 2026 14:00:16 +0000 SCMP Sport SCMP Sport The New Year may have been a little low key as far as sport in Hong Kong is concerned, but 2026 is promising to be just as busy as the past 12 months. Along with major events such as the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens, LIV Golf and the return of the World Table Tennis Finals, there is something for almost everyone in the coming year. And while there is still no word yet on whether the hugely successful Football Festival will be back again, here are some of the events we do know about so you can... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3338401/ice-hockey-sevens-heres-some-what-lies-ahead-hong-kong-sport-2026?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3338401/ice-hockey-sevens-heres-some-what-lies-ahead-hong-kong-sport-2026?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 01 Jan 2026 09:30:09 +0000 Ambrose Li,Paul McNamara Ambrose Li,Paul McNamara The National Games has been more than a first for co-hosts Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau; it has also marked the emergence of the stars of the future. And as well as the passing of the physical torch from the Greater Bay Area to Hunan, which will stage the 2029 Games, there was the passing of the metaphorical one between generations. While the likes of Ma Long and Sun Yang, and even Pan Zhanle, grapple with the fading of their powers, those who will replace them have been stealing the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3333742/national-games-new-generation-stars-set-shine-asian-games-olympics-and-beyond?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3333742/national-games-new-generation-stars-set-shine-asian-games-olympics-and-beyond?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 21 Nov 2025 23:00:30 +0000 Wynna Wong Wynna Wong The National Games have long been billed as a proving ground for China’s new wave of athletes as the competition cycle gears up for the next Olympics, and for rising star swimmer Zhang Zhanshuo, this year’s event has become a definitive coronation. The 15th edition of the National Games has seen the 18-year-old from Shandong sweep three major gold medals so far, including the men’s 200m, 400m and 800m freestyle events, as he establishes dominance in the middle- and long-distance categories,... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3332929/national-games-3-races-still-go-zhang-zhanshuo-can-already-be-crowned-swim-king?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3332929/national-games-3-races-still-go-zhang-zhanshuo-can-already-be-crowned-swim-king?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 15 Nov 2025 13:00:10 +0000 Tom Bell,Harvey Kong,Mike Chan Tom Bell,Harvey Kong,Mike Chan Yu Zidi is only just into her teens, but the young swimming sensation is already a National Games champion – emphatically so, after smashing an Asian record set before she was born to win the women’s 200 metres individual medley on Tuesday. She gave notice of her promise at the summer’s world championships in Singapore, collecting a relay medal and threatening the podium in her individual events. And Tuesday’s medley final in Shenzhen saw her storm to gold for Hebei in two minutes and 7.41... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3332387/national-games-swimmer-yu-zidi-13-breaks-record-set-she-was-born-win-gold?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3332387/national-games-swimmer-yu-zidi-13-breaks-record-set-she-was-born-win-gold?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 11 Nov 2025 13:37:14 +0000 Tom Bell Tom Bell The National Games will be the setting on Tuesday for the comeback of an Olympic table tennis champion and the continued emergence of a frighteningly young swimming talent. It is also the first day of the men’s under-22 basketball tournament, being staged in Hong Kong. Here is our guide to the day ahead. Chen Meng is back Plenty of eyes will be on the table tennis venue in Macau at lunchtime for a long-awaited sighting of Chen Meng. Since her withdrawal from the world rankings last December,... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3332253/national-games-day-2-planner-yu-zidis-meteoric-rise-chen-mengs-comeback?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3332253/national-games-day-2-planner-yu-zidis-meteoric-rise-chen-mengs-comeback?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 10 Nov 2025 23:00:09 +0000 Lars Hamer Lars Hamer A child prodigy, world record holders, Olympic medallists and world champions mean that swimming at the National Games is set to be one of the hottest tickets going. The sport is set to be dominated by mainland Chinese swimmers, with Hong Kong possessing only one contender who can boast the above status: four-time Olympic medallist Siobhan Haughey. The 27-year-old has previously stated that she does not know whether she will compete at international level next year, and success is far from... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3329431/beyond-siobhan-haughey-hong-kongs-best-bets-chinas-top-threats-national-games?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3329431/beyond-siobhan-haughey-hong-kongs-best-bets-chinas-top-threats-national-games?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 18 Oct 2025 01:00:19 +0000 Tom Bell Tom Bell China’s 12-year-old sensation Yu Zidi had to settle for fourth on the final night of the World Aquatics Championships on Sunday as Summer McIntosh capped a brilliant few days to win the women’s 400 metres individual medley. McIntosh’s fourth gold in Singapore made the 18-year-old Canadian only the third swimmer to win five individual medals at one edition, emulating Michael Phelps and Sarah Sjostrom. It came on a day when Pan Zhanle suffered further disappointment, as China failed to reach the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3320608/yu-zidi-close-medal-again-mcintosh-us-women-rule-swimming-worlds-final-night?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3320608/yu-zidi-close-medal-again-mcintosh-us-women-rule-swimming-worlds-final-night?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 03 Aug 2025 15:24:50 +0000 Tom Bell Tom Bell Pan Zhanle suffered more disappointment at the World Aquatics Championships on Sunday, when China failed to reach the men’s 4x100 metres medley relay final – the event in which he shocked the world at the Olympics. The heroics of Pan on the final freestyle leg at the Paris Games last August had ended a decades-long American monopoly in this discipline. But on Sunday morning in Singapore, a repeat proved beyond a team that included Pan and China’s other leading light, Qin Haiyang, who was also in... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3320587/pan-zhanle-cant-repeat-olympic-relay-victory-over-us-yu-zidi-12-has-medal-chance?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3320587/pan-zhanle-cant-repeat-olympic-relay-victory-over-us-yu-zidi-12-has-medal-chance?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 03 Aug 2025 08:19:15 +0000 Lars Hamer Lars Hamer 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... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3320330/world-aquatics-championships-chinas-women-claim-relay-bronze-yu-gets-first-medal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3320330/world-aquatics-championships-chinas-women-claim-relay-bronze-yu-gets-first-medal?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 31 Jul 2025 14:11:04 +0000 Lars Hamer Lars Hamer Qin Haiyang claimed China’s first gold medal in swimming events at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore on Monday, winning the men’s 100 metres breaststroke. And in the women’s 200m individual medley final, China’s swimming prodigy, the 12-year-old Yu Zidi, finished fourth and missed out on a bronze medal by 0.06 seconds. Qin’s medal and Yu’s impressive performance were silver linings in what was a largely disappointing day for Chinese swimmers, as big names missed out on podiums and... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3319886/world-aquatics-championships-qin-haiyang-wins-chinas-first-swim-gold-100m-breaststroke?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3319886/world-aquatics-championships-qin-haiyang-wins-chinas-first-swim-gold-100m-breaststroke?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 28 Jul 2025 13:18:41 +0000 Lars Hamer Lars Hamer Yu Zidi could make history on Monday, when the 12-year-old sensation races for her first medal at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore. While Canadian world record holder Summer McIntosh, herself only 18 and an Olympic champion in the event, is the overwhelming favourite in the 200 metres individual medley final, Yu could become the youngest person to win a medal at an international event in 89 years. That accolade belongs to Denmark’s Inge Sorensen, who won bronze less than a month... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3319763/who-yu-zidi-chinese-12-year-old-making-waves-world-aquatics-championships?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3319763/who-yu-zidi-chinese-12-year-old-making-waves-world-aquatics-championships?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 28 Jul 2025 01:00:18 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Yu Zidi of China is only 12 years old and will race at the World Swimming Championships later this month in Singapore. But her age is only part of the picture. Not only is Yu very young, but her times in three events this year are also among the best in the world. And here is the kicker: those times would have been very close to medals in last year’s Paris Olympics. And she is not yet a teenager. “I think it’s a great story. I don’t know where it will lead,” said Greg Meehan, the national team... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3318639/all-eyes-chinese-swimmer-yu-zidi-12-who-takes-stunning-times-world-championships?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3318639/all-eyes-chinese-swimmer-yu-zidi-12-who-takes-stunning-times-world-championships?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 17 Jul 2025 23:00:10 +0000