At the age of just twelve, Yu Zidi was only centimeters to a medal at the swimming World Cup. This is astonishing and worrying at the same time.
In 1992 a 14 -year -old swimmer enchanted all of Germany. Franziska van Almsick won her first medal at the Olympic Games in Barcelona, it was bronze over 100 meters freestyle. What fascinated 33 years ago would no longer be possible today, because to be allowed to start at Olympics, German athletes must be at least 16 years old in the year of the games.
Because other rules – national and international – are generally valid at World Championships, an extremely young swimmer is again in the spotlight.
Yu Zidi wins almost bronze at the age of twelve
We are talking about Yu Zidi, who is still two years younger than Van Almsick back then, but almost just as successful. The Chinese woman has become fourth over 200 meters, she was only 0.06 seconds to jump on the podium and the first World Cup medal of her young career. But what is not can still be – in Singapore the twelve -year -old starts over 200 meters butterfly and 400 meters.
It is astonishing how early swimmers always make it into the top of the world. Summer Mcintosh, who won the 200-meter layout race, is currently the outstanding personality of her sport at the age of 18 and at least of legal age-but it has also been successful for three years. At the age of 15, the Australian became world champion for the first time in 2022.
Half -hearted age rules at the World Association
Swimming offers the possibility of not having to train young talents until the first successes occur. The situation is similar in gymnastics, water jumping or in skate and snowboarding. If you want to be successful as a child, you have the opportunity to do so. The question, which is discussed again and again, is: Should children really have this option?
Basically, the World Aquatic’s World Association restricts them, because according to the official rules, athletes are only allowed to start at World Championships when they are 14 years old in the year. But at the long end, children are treated like adults – if they qualify through their performance, they can also be there regardless of their age. Children are rewarded for their skills – but their childhood are not protected.
Yu Zidi thought about exhaustion of quitting
Young athletes like Yu Zidi spurs this on. Incidentally, she should not start at the Olympic Games because Chinese must be at least 14 years old in the von year without restriction. Nevertheless, the IOC itself spreads the history of the twelve -year -olds. After their fourth place, a portrait with the heading was made on the Olympics.com website “Who is 12-year-old Yu Zidi? The most important facts about the Chinese swimming miracle” published.
In it, the “swimming miracle child” also has their say. Among other things, she said: “Before the national championships last year I almost gave up swimming because I was exhausted by training and studying. Thanks to my coaches, teammates, friends and parents, fortunately it became clear to me that swimming is an integral part of my life and I cannot give it up. I keep remembering that hard work is sure to bring good results.”
Yu Zidi forces herself to give up her childhood for early success. The following also applies here: In principle, their high ambitions are desirable. But should a child really have these ambitions?