Yu Zidi Wiki: Age, Height, Net Worth, Asian Games MVP 2026 & Biography
Yu Zidi (Chinese: 于子迪) is a Chinese swimmer who, at thirteen, became the youngest Most Valuable Player in Asian Games history. At the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games she won three individual gold medals — the 200m butterfly, 200m individual medley and 400m individual medley — setting three Games records and an Asian record along the way. A year earlier she had already become the youngest medallist in the history of the World Aquatics Championships. As of October 2026, she is 13 years old.
Yu Zidi — Quick Facts
| Age | 13 years (born 16 October 2012) |
| Height | Not officially disclosed |
| Birthplace | Baoding, Hebei, China |
| Occupation | Swimmer (butterfly / individual medley) |
| Known for | Youngest Asian Games MVP; 3 golds at Aichi-Nagoya 2026 |
Early Life
Yu Zidi was born on 16 October 2012 in Baoding, in China’s northern Hebei province. Her route into swimming was accidental: at around six years old, her father took her to a water park to escape the summer heat, where a coach noticed her natural feel for the water and suggested she train properly. Within a few years she had moved to nearby Hengshui to join the Hebei Taihua Jinye Swimming Club, the provincial-enterprise programme where she still trains.
Her daily training partner is Li Bingjie, the Olympic medallist who is also from Baoding — Yu has described the older swimmer as an idol and an “older sister” figure. She has also named Canada’s Summer McIntosh, the Olympic champion and world record holder in her events, as a role model. Chinese media reports describe a routine built around daytime training with school classes fitted around it, supported by the provincial programme.
Career
Yu’s times began turning heads nationally in 2024. At eleven, she took 400m individual medley silver at the Chinese National Championships in 4:40.97 — only about two seconds outside the Olympic qualifying time. A year later, at twelve, she produced a stunning national championships: 2:10.63 in the 200m individual medley (reported by World Aquatics as the fastest ever by a 12-year-old of either sex), 2:06.83 to win the 200m butterfly, and 4:35.53 to win the 400m medley. Those swims cleared World Aquatics’ “A” standards, which allowed her to race at the World Championships in Singapore despite the body’s usual minimum age of fourteen.
At Singapore 2025 she became the youngest swimmer ever to reach a World Championship final and, through China’s bronze in the women’s 4×200m freestyle relay (she swam the heats), the youngest medallist in the competition’s history — a distinction the Sydney Morning Herald noted had not belonged to a 12-year-old since the 1936 Olympics. She also finished fourth in all three of her individual events, twice missing bronze by fractions of a second. Later that year she won 200m medley gold at China’s National Games in 2:07.41, an Asian record, and was named World Junior Female Swimmer of the Year by SwimSwam.
The 2026 Asian Games in September made her a continental star. On 20 September she won the 200m butterfly in 2:05.08, a Games record that wiped out Olympic champion Zhang Yufei’s mark. The next day she swam 2:06.10 in the 200m individual medley — a Games record, an Asian record and a world junior record, and the second-fastest swim in the event’s history. On 23 September she completed the treble with 400m medley gold in 4:28.56, another Games record. On 4 October the Olympic Council of Asia named her the Female MVP of the Games — the youngest MVP in Asian Games history — with a $25,000 prize. Characteristically understated, she told reporters afterwards: “I don’t think I am what people describe as a prodigy.”
Personal Life
For one of the most famous teenagers in Chinese sport, remarkably little is public about Yu Zidi’s private life — which is as it should be for a thirteen-year-old. Her parents’ names have not been published, and coverage focuses almost entirely on her swimming. She is reported to continue school alongside training in Hengshui, where her days are split between the pool and the classroom. No net worth figure exists in the public domain, and at her age there are no reported endorsements; her known earnings are sporting prize money, including the $25,000 MVP award from the Olympic Council of Asia. Coaches and commentators alike stress that her development is being managed carefully, with workload and expectations kept appropriate for her age.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Yu Zidi?
She is 13 years old, born on 16 October 2012 in Baoding, Hebei, China.
What did Yu Zidi win at the 2026 Asian Games?
Three individual gold medals — the 200m butterfly, 200m individual medley and 400m individual medley — plus the Female MVP award, making her the youngest MVP in Asian Games history.
What are Yu Zidi’s best times?
Her Asian Games winning times were 2:05.08 (200m butterfly), 2:06.10 (200m individual medley — an Asian record) and 4:28.56 (400m individual medley).
How tall is Yu Zidi?
Her height has not been officially disclosed. One estimate placed her around 150 cm, but this is unverified.
What is Yu Zidi’s net worth?
There is no public information about her net worth. She is 13 and has no reported endorsements; her known earnings are sporting prizes.
Will Yu Zidi compete at the LA 2028 Olympics?
Nothing is confirmed, but she is widely tipped as a medal contender for Los Angeles 2028, where a showdown with Canada’s Summer McIntosh in the medley events is eagerly anticipated.
Related: read about fellow Chinese swimming star Zhang Zhanshuo and teenage tennis sensation Alex Eala.
