Yu Zidi completes Asian Games swimming gold-medal sweep

China’s Yu Zidi won her third individual swimming gold medal at the Asian Games on September 23, taking the women’s 400-meter individual medley in a Games-record time of 4:28.56. The 13-year-old had already won the 200-meter butterfly and 200-meter individual medley, completing a sweep of the three individual events she swam at the competition. Yu finished the 400-meter race less than five seconds behind the world-record time of 4:23.65 held by Canada’s Summer McIntosh. Her result added to a series of performances that have drawn attention to the young swimmer, but future comparisons with McIntosh depend on both athletes competing in the same events. Yu’s third win came during a strong day for China in the pool. Chinese swimmers won six of seven events on September 23, and China had collected 21 gold medals in 27 swimming events, with two days of pool competition remaining. Yu could still be selected for a relay, but the reports did not establish whether she would swim in one. The 400-meter individual medley victory followed Yu’s earlier wins in the 200-meter butterfly and 200-meter individual medley. Her times in those races were also reported as close to McIntosh’s marks.