China's 13-year-old swimming prodigy wins two golds at Asian Games — then asks reporters how to answer their questions

International media have turned a spotlight on Yu Zidi, China's teenage swimming prodigy, after the 13-year-old won two gold medals on consecutive days at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games — and then visibly struggled with the flood of questions from reporters.

Yu claimed her first gold Sunday in the women's 200-meter butterfly final, clocking 2 minutes 5.08 seconds to set a new Games record. The following day she won again, posting an Asian record of 2:06.10 in the 200-meter individual medley final.

Her individual medley time is also the world's best this season, falling just 0.40 seconds short of the world record held by Canada's Summer McIntosh.

Yu has drawn attention in global swimming circles since last year, when, at age 12, she won a bronze medal at the World Championships — becoming the youngest medalist in the event's history. Her performances at these Asian Games have also prompted talk of her as a contender for gold at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Outside the pool, however, she cut a different figure. AFP reported on the young swimmer's visible discomfort as reporters pressed her with questions.

When asked how she felt about her race, Yu reportedly turned the question back on the journalists. "How am I supposed to answer this? Can someone teach me? Do I just say how I feel?" she asked.

When pressed on the secret behind her dominant performances, she said she felt nothing in particular, adding that she simply runs through the technical points her coach has given her in her head.

World Aquatics rules generally require athletes to be at least 14 years old to compete in major international competitions, though exceptions are made for swimmers who demonstrate sufficient competitive ability.

The sport has nonetheless seen growing concern over the physical and mental toll that elite-level training and international competition can take on young athletes.

Yu herself has reportedly acknowledged that balancing the demands of competitive swimming with her school life is no easy task.

When a reporter asked whether interviews were the hardest part of it all, she replied: "Every time I do an interview, I just want to float away somewhere."