by sportswriters Wang Zijiang and Li Jia

SINGAPORE, July 27 (Xinhua) -- 12-year-old Yu Zidi made her international debut in style on Sunday, racing alongside the world's best at the 2025 World Aquatics Championships in Singapore.

A primary school student from northern China, Yu is the youngest swimmer in the entire field - and already one of the most talked-about. In the women's 200m individual medley, the opening event of swimming competition, she finished sixth in her heat and advanced to the semifinals as the 15th-fastest swimmer overall.

But Yu's story is far more than just her age. It's her extraordinary speed that's turning heads.

Earlier this year, she clocked 2:10.63 in the 200m IM - the fastest time ever recorded by a 12-year-old - to win silver at the Chinese national championships. At the same meet, she swam 4:35.53 in the 400m individual medley and 2:06.83 in the 200m butterfly.

"That's amazing," wrote the Associated Press ahead of the meet, noting that Yu's times are among the world's best - regardless of age. AFP described her emergence as "stunning," citing performances that already rank at or near medal level.

Yu's journey into swimming began almost by accident. "The summer that year was too hot, so I went to the water park with my dad," she told Xinhua. "I often went to cool off in swimming pools ... and a coach discovered me."

She may be new to the world stage, but Yu's poise and potential have already drawn comparisons to teen prodigies of the past. EssentiallySports called her "a Chinese swimming prodigy making global waves," capturing both her talent and the momentum she brings into the championships.

Yu will return to the pool later Sunday for the semifinals of the 200m IM. She'll also race in the 200m butterfly on July 30 and the 400m IM on August 3, where she'll face off against top-tier talents including Canada's Summer McIntosh, the reigning Olympic champion in all three events and world record holder in both medley events.

Winning a medal in Singapore won't be easy for Yu. McIntosh, 18, remains the swimmer to beat. She swam a world-record 2:05.70 in the 200m IM at the Canadian trials in June and qualified second in Sunday's heats with 2:09.46 - 2.44 seconds ahead of Yu.

Still, for Yu, her debut on the global stage is more about experience than expectations.

"I was so excited when I got the qualification," she said. "I hope I can perform well. But since I don't know much about the World Championships and have never been to one before, I just want to give it my best."

At age 12, she already is - and the swimming world is watching. ■