Story perspectives

Yu Zidi Wins Three Individual Golds at Asian Games

By Drooid · Sep 23, 2026, 2:45 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Yu Zidi Wins Hat-Trick

Yu Zidi, 13-year-old swimmer, completed a hat-trick of individual gold medals at the Asian Games.
She won the 200 m butterfly in 2:05.08 on September 20, setting a Games record.
She claimed the 200 m individual medley in 2:06.10 on September 21, a Games and Asian record and the 2026 world-best time.
Yu Zidi says interviews are harder than racing.
She struggles to balance school with elite training.

Summary

China Leads Medal Tally

Chinese team topped swimming medal table with 15 golds in first three days.
China led overall Games tally with 23 gold, 10 silver and five bronze medals.
Athletes were housed in temporary container huts, hotels and a cruise ship rather than a traditional village.
North Korea’s Ri Song Gum set three world records and won Asian Games gold in the 49 kg class.

History

Historical Context

At the 2008 Beijing Games, the United States captured 12 swimming golds while host China led the overall medal table with 48 golds, marking its first top-nation finish. The Beijing “Water Cube” produced 65 Olympic swimming records, spurring national investment in aquatic sport. That legacy underpins China’s current dominance in Asian swimming competitions.

1 of 3

Yu Zidi Wins Hat-Trick

Yu Zidi, 13-year-old swimmer, completed a hat-trick of individual gold medals at the Asian Games.
She won the 200 m butterfly in 2:05.08 on September 20, setting a Games record.
She claimed the 200 m individual medley in 2:06.10 on September 21, a Games and Asian record and the 2026 world-best time.
Yu Zidi says interviews are harder than racing.
She struggles to balance school with elite training.

1 / 3