12-12 months-Outdated Yu Zidi Blasts Unbelievable 4:35.53 in 400 IM at Chinese language Nationals; Wang Shun Units Championship File
Yu Zidi, the 12-year-old phenom who has attracted the eye of the swimming world for her precocious expertise, capped the Chinese language Nationwide Championships in spectacular trend on Saturday night time. Recording a career-best time of 4:35.53, Yu secured victory within the 400-meter particular person medley and certified for this summer time’s World Championships in a 3rd occasion.
Already the champion of the 200 butterfly and the runnerup within the 200 IM, Yu was equally sensational within the 400 medley, an occasion wherein she clocked 4:40 final 12 months as an 11-year-old. The pre-teen received the Chinese language crown on the final day of the meet by practically two seconds, as she was adopted in second place by Chang Mohan (4:37.33) and in third place by Li Bingjie (4:38.66).
Yu cut up 1:01.29 for the opening butterfly leg and got here by means of the halfway level of the race in 2:11.13. She was timed at 3:31.67 whereas making the flip from breaststroke to freestyle and he or she closed out the race with a freestyle cut up of 1:03.88. The outing took 5 seconds off her prior private greatest and, given her age and vital enchancment arc, Yu might be anticipated to contend for the rostrum on the World Champs in Singapore.
To put perspective on Yu’s expertise and accomplishments, the 11-12 Nationwide Age Group women’ report for the 400 IM in america belongs to Kayla Han at 4:50.70. In the meantime, the male report for the age group is 4:42.54, seven seconds adrift of what Yu recorded.
Wu Qingfeng put the ending touches on an outstanding week by claiming victory within the 50 freestyle, behind a mark of 24.18. That point handed Wu her third gold medal of Nationals, backing up earlier wins within the 50 butterfly and 100 freestyle. Within the 50 free, Wu was adopted by Cheng Yujie, who was timed in 24.33.
Third place within the 50 freestyle went to Zhang Yufei, the reigning Olympic bronze medalist within the occasion. Zhang took an prolonged break from coaching following the Olympic Video games in Paris and continues to work her method again to optimum form. Earlier within the week, she was second within the 100 butterfly and third within the 50 fly.
Wang Shun and Zhang Zhanshuo put up a pair of high quality instances en path to a 1-2 end within the males’s 400 particular person medley. The 2020 Olympic champion within the 200 IM, Wang accomplished his weekly sweep of the medley occasions by touching the wall in a championship report of 4:10.64. That effort was somewhat greater than a second sooner than the 4:11.86 of Zhang, who truly posted that point within the 400 IM after profitable the 1500 freestyle in 15:02.62, marking an extremely troublesome double.
Sooner or later after equaling his Chinese language report within the 50 backstroke in 24.38, Xu Jiayu was barely off that efficiency. Nonetheless, Xu’s effort of 24.46 was good for a decisive triumph and wrapped up his sweep of the backstroke occasions. In the meantime, Tang Qianting was additionally victorious in a dash occasion, as she complemented her earlier win within the 100 breaststroke by putting first within the 50 breast (30.23).
Because of the X account, Chinese language Swimming Information and Outcomes (@CHNswim_fan), for its protection of the competitors.