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Swimming-Too much too young? China’s 12-year-old phenom Yu sparks wonder and concern

Reuters |

Published on: Aug 11, 2025 06:31 pm IST

SWIMMING-CHILDREN/YU (PIX):Swimming-Too much too young? China’s 12-year-old phenom Yu sparks wonder and concern

By Ian Ransom

Swimming-Too much too young? China's 12-year-old phenom Yu sparks wonder and concern
Swimming-Too much too young? China’s 12-year-old phenom Yu sparks wonder and concern

MELBOURNE, – Beating a 12-year-old rival was once child’s play for an elite swimmer but it has become an unlikely badge of honour when China’s Yu Zidi is in the race.

Only the very best in women’s swimming were able to beat Yu at the world championships where the prodigy became the youngest medallist in the global meet’s 52-year history.

Yet even as the swimming world marvelled at Yu’s talent, her age raised questions about the ethics of someone so young competing at the highest level.

In a sport where the mental and physical toll can prove overwhelming for adults, Yu’s success at the world championships was viewed dimly by some child protection advocates.

“Twelve-years-old is incredibly young in swimming,” author Linda Flanagan, a vocal opponent of children competing in elite sport, told Reuters.

“A 12-year-old does not train like an 18 or 20-year-old because their bodies aren’t equipped to handle the work involved.

“And also emotionally, it’s not in their best interest.

“It flies in the face of what psychologists say about what’s healthy for kids, which is not to put all your eggs in one basket, to spread your interests so you don’t become this narrow person.”

Adolescents are hardly rare in swimming, particularly in women’s competition where athletes tend to reach peak performance earlier than men.

Dane Inge Sorensen was 12 when she won the 200 metres breaststroke bronze at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. She remains the youngest Games medallist in individual events.

Sharron Davies swam for Britain at 11 and made her Olympic debut at the 1976 Montreal Games at 13.

Far from being concerned about Yu’s wellbeing, Davies said the Chinese wunderkind, who won a relay bronze and came fourth in three individual events on her world championships debut, would have found it a thrill.

“It is a total misconception that that young girl would have been extremely nervous. It would have been the opposite,” Davies told Reuters in an interview.

” I made that Olympic Games, I was just on cloud nine.

“There was nothing for me to lose and everything to gain. And it would have been the same for her: she had nothing to lose and everything to gain.”

MORE INTENSE

There was little sign of Yu being overawed as she recorded personal bests in the 200m and 400m individual medley , and 200 butterfly.

Her time of 4:33.76 in the 400 IM final would have taken the Paris Olympic bronze medal away from 23-year-old American Emma Weyant.

Yu told Chinese media the Singapore meet was more intense than she had imagined but the atmosphere was great.

“This relay bronze motivates me to keep working hard,” Yu told Xinhua.

“Right after the race, I talked to my family. I want to bring back the medal …. to share the joy with them.”

Yu’s may be the last world swimming medal won by a 12-year-old pending a World Aquatics review.

Although the global swimming body has a minimum age of 14 for Olympics and world championships, its by-laws allow younger swimmers with qualifying times to compete.

Yu qualified at the national championships in May.

World Aquatics Executive Director Brent Nowicki said the governing body would have to take a look at the age rule.

“I didn’t think I’d have this conversation, but now I think we have to go back and say, ‘Is this appropriate?'” Nowicki told reporters in Singapore.

“Do we need to do other things? Put other guard-rails up? Do we allow it under certain conditions? I don’t know the answer.”

An International Olympic Committee consensus statement on elite youth athletes published last year noted adolescent athletes are more susceptible to “musculoskeletal injuries” while the intense physical and mental demands of sport can bring “psychosocial strain” and mental health challenges.

China’s state broadcaster CCTV reported that Yu nearly quit swimming last year when she was 11 because she felt pressure before the national championships.

“I was just overwhelmed with emotion and didn’t want to train anymore,” Yu said in comments published by the broadcaster in May.

But “patient encouragement” from her coach and family helped her persevere.

The Chinese Swimming Association and China’s General Administration of Sport did not respond to requests from Reuters to interview Yu or her coaches, or for comment on the national swim team’s safeguarding protocols for child athletes.

Australia head coach Rohan Taylor said he would be cautious about selecting a 12-year-old for open competition at a major global meet but would not rule it out.

“I would go through a process to make sure everything was in place to support that athlete and that we felt we weren’t putting any expectation or pressure,” he told Reuters.

“There’s a lot of hurdles before we put in that situation.”

Three years out from the Los Angeles Olympics, rivals and pundits see a big future for Yu.

But predictions of super-stardom may not bear out, according to Michael Bergeron, co-author of the IOC’s consensus statement on youth athletes and a sport science expert with the Women’s Tennis Association.

Citing IOC data, Bergeron said just over 30% of under-18 athletes who competed at Olympics returned as adults.

“Maybe she is going to be a superstar down the road but the ones that usually excel at a young age are rarely the ones to excel as an older adolescent, never mind as an adult,” he said.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.

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Men’s Track and Field Finishes Second in Season Opener

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CHICAGO — The University of Chicago men’s track and field team took to the track on Friday afternoon at the Cougar Alumni Invite hosted by Chicago State. The Maroons finished second in a strong field of teams to open up the 2025-26 campaign with a strong start.

Quint Stein and Simon Dixon led the Maroons as the lone two individuals with first-place finishes. Dixon took home the wins in both the Shot Put and the Weight Throw, and Stein added the lone running event victory in the 800m Run. UChicago took the top three finishes in the 800m Run as Abraham Went and Tristan Louvard took second and third with a pair of finishes within two seconds of Stein. 

Nathaniel Stuit earned a personal best in the men’s 400m Run with a time of 49.04 en route to second-place finish.

Oluwaseyi Kadiri added a second-place finish in the Triple Jump, and Imran Serifovic added a third-place finish in the High Jump for the top two jumping performances on the day.

With the first meet of the season now complete, the Maroons will break for the holidays before returning to the Henry Crown Fieldhouse for the Phoenix Invite on January 10.

TOP-5 FINISHERS:

1) Quint Stein – 800m Run – 1:57.32
1) Simon Dixon – Weight Throw – 16.49m
1) Simon Dixon – Shot Put – 15.53m
2) Nathaniel Stuit – 400m Run – 49.04 (Collegiate Best)
2) Oluwaseyi Kadiri – Triple Jump – 13.75m
2) Abraham Went – 800m – 1:58.56
3) Tristan Louvard – 800m – 1:59.22
3) Paul Sackman – 200m Dash – 22.16
3) Imran Serifovic – High Jump – 1.95m
3) Ethan Hoffman – Shot Put – 14.36m
4) Karsten Kropp – High Jump – 1.95m
5) Daniel Hernandez – Triple Jump – 13.22m
5) Paul Sackman – 60m Dash – 6.95

COLLEGIATE BESTS:

* Jackson Giampa – 200m Dash – 22.43
* Nathaniel Stuit – 400m Run – 49.04

TEAM SCORES:

1) Chicago State – 127.5
2) UChicago – 98
3) Madonna – 97.5
4) Bradley – 58
5) UIC – 54
6) Wisconsin – 49
7) Olivet Nazarene – 32
8) Bradley – 14
9) Loyola-Chicago – 13
10) Judson – 12
11) St. Xavier – 10
12) Benedictine (IL) – 6
13) Olive Harvey – 1



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Women’s Track and Field Kicks Off 2026 Season With Impressive Performances at Springfield Season Opener Meet

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Springfield, Mass. – December 6, 2025 – The Springfield College women’s track and field team had a number of strong performances as it hosted the Springfield College Season Opener for the first meet of the season on Saturday afternoon.

Katherine DeFosse (Worcester, Mass.) picked up right where she left off last indoor season as she took first in the 60-meter hurdles at 8.74 which is the third fastest time in NCAA Division III to date this season. DeFosse also picked up a second-place finish in both the 60-meter dash with a time of 7.84, which ranks eighth nationally and the 200-meter dash at 26.62 while Ella Couchon (Windsor Locks, Conn.) took the win in the 200-meter dash at 26.55, which ranks 16th nationally.

Kristina Kyle (Watertown, Conn.) won the one mile run, crossing the finish line at 5:19.76, ranking her fourth in the country early on, and Kami Wlodyka (Three Rivers, Mass.) finished third with a time of 5:29.72.

Natalia Marchand (Hubbardston, Mass.) took first place in the 400-meter dash in 58.51, ranking her fourth in Division III thus far, while first-year Sydney Meeks (Wynantskill, N.Y.) took second place with times of 58.51 and 1:02.80, respectively. Peyton Knott (Leicester, Mass.) won the 600-meter run with a time of 1:43.40. 

Springfield’s relay teams swept the top three spots in the 4×400-meter relay with the relay team of Knott, Meeks, Marchand, and Madison Mulas (Wilmington, Mass.) finishing at 4:14.77.

In the field events, Hannah Debian (West Springfield, Mass.) won both the weight throw and shot put with marks of 15.48-meters (50 feet, 9.00 inches) and 11.87-meters (38 feet, 11.25 inches), respectively. Debian’s weight throw toss ranks fourth in the country as of today.

Grace Flattery (Swansea, Mass.) and Autumn Bacik (Watertown, Conn.) tied for second place in the high jump with a 1.58-meter (5 feet, 2.25 inches) jump. The duo is tied for ninth in Division III with this mark so far this season. Flattery also finished second in the triple jump with a mark of 10.42-meters (34 feet, 2.25 inches) in her debut for the Pride. 

Springfield will await the new year and travel to Tufts on Saturday, January 17 for the Branwen Smith-King Invitational. 

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FLEMMER POSTS PROGRAM RECORD AT HOLIDAY OPEN

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BROOKINGS, S.D. — South Dakota State opens its season with a 300-meter program record performance and over 20 podium finishes at the SDSU Holiday Open Friday evening. 

HEAD COACH ROD DEHAVEN

“It was a great opening meet for the Jackrabbits. We ahd a lot of very positive things like the 300-meter school record from Lucas Flemmer. Great finish. The men’s 4×400-meter relay. We saw a lot of great stuff across the board. There is some things we can build upon, but the coaching staff I think was pleased with our overall effort today.”

TRACK EVENTS

The highlight of the meet occurred during the 300-meter race as sophomore Lucas Flemmer bested fellow teammate James Pierce’s program record of 33.65 by nearly a tenth of a second at 33.54 to win the race. Carter Toews, Griffin Fischer, Gunnar Gunderson and Cael Woods competed alongside Flemmer. Toews finished runner-up with a time of 34.42. Fischer claimed bronzed in his collegiate debut, crossing the line at 34.45. Gunnar Gunderson placed in the top-five with a time of 34.89, and Woods took seventh at 35.38. 

Chloe Raw was a sight to see on the women’s side. Raw won the 60-meter dash in her collegiate debut, posting a time of 7.47. Later in the meet, Raw claimed bronze in the 200-meter with a time of 24.16. On the men’s side, Landen Matkins clutched runner-up in the 200-meter with a time of 22.22.

Freshman Story Rasby also won her first collegiate race during the night’s competition. Rasby won the 300-meter dash with a time of 39.52. Several Jackrabbits raced alongside Rasby, such as Erika Kuntz, who took bronze at 40.19. Jenna Johnson posted a top-five placement with a time of 40.36. Kyra Weiss clocked a time of 41.07 for sixth, while Vivian Dalton placed seventh with a time of 41.33. Alynna Henderson rounded out the Jackrabbit lineup in with a time of 43.84 to finish eighth overall. 

Kuntz and Johnson also competed together in the 4×400-meter relay race. The two seniors, alongside Ellie Harris and Maggie Madsen, posted a time of 3:50.15 to win the event. Another SDSU relay team, comprised of Rasby, Reese Luze, Dalton and Weiss, challenged the winning senior squad during the race as the two teams vied for primary position. Ultimately, Weiss crossed the line a second after Kuntz to claim silver for her squad. Flemmer led the team for the men’s 4×400-meter relay. Freshmen Tate Songstad and Griffin Fischer made up the middle legs of the race with Gunnar Gunderson as the anchor. The squad clocked a time of 3:16.01 to win the event. 

In distance events, Hannah Spoden won the 800-meter with a time of 2:13.30, while Lindsey Rotz crossed the line hot on Spoden’s tail in second at 2:13.50. Anna Sheriff and Marissa Garcia raced as well, finishing 11th and 12th, respectively. Sheriff posted a time of 2:21.58, while Garcia crossed at 2:23.42. On the men’s side, Joe Dustin finished fourth with a time of 1:53.79. 

Sean Murphy took gold in the mile with a time of 4:16.34. Ty Brouwer raced as well, finishing fourth at 4:19.30. In the 3000-meter race, Tyler O’Neill finished runner-up at 8:45.48 behind Jackrabbit alum, Daniel Burkhalter, who clocked a time of 8:43.51. On the women’s side, Nicole Swanson took third at 10:08.31. 

FIELD EVENTS

Ethan Fischer opened his senior season with a personal record in weight throw. Fischer hit a mark of 63-06.75 (19.37m) to win the event, while fellow Jackrabbit Ryan Hackbart took third with a throw of 58-01.25 (17.71m). 

Ty Nelson opened his collegiate career with a first-place finish in triple jump. Nelson landed a mark of 47-08.50 (14.54m) to become the seventh-best performer in program history. Fellow freshman Kincade Lehman competed as well, placing in the top-five with a mark of 45-05.00 (13.84m). While Lehman didn’t make podium in triple jump, the freshman posted an impressive performance in long jump as he won the event with a leap of 23-06.00 (7.16m). Long jump was a packed event for SDSU as six other Jackrabbits competed alongside Lehman. Rylan McDonnell took fourth with a mark of 21-10.75 (6.67m). Brett Fraker finished in the top-five after landing 21-10.00 (6.65m). Wyatt Melcher took seventh with a jump of 21-05.25 (6.53m). Ryan Benson claimed ninth with a leap of 21-03.50 (6.49m). Hudson Schroeder finished 11th at 21-02.50 (6.46m), and Ty Nelson rounded out the Jackrabbit lineup with a 12th-place finish and a leap of 20-10.50 (6.36m). 

Taylor Jochum had a solid showing in her season debut. Jochum cleared 5-04.25 (1.63m) in the high jump competition to take second. Hadley Carlson and Logan Bly competed as well, placing fourth and eighth, respectively. Carlson cleared 5-04.25 (1.63m) to receive her placement, while Bly jumped 5-00.25 (1.53m). 



UP NEXT

The Jackrabbits disperse for winter break before heading to Vermillion for the USD Alumni Meet on Jan. 17. 


-GoJacks.com-



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Sara Schermerhorn Tops Former Teammate to Win 400 Meters at GVSU Track and Field Holiday Open

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Hope College sprinter Sara Schermerhorn raced past a former teammate to win the 400-meter run at the indoor season–opening Grand Valley State University Holiday Open on Friday in Allendale.

The senior from Traverse City, Michigan (Traverse City West), posted a first-place time of 55.45 seconds to race past a field of 58 on GVSU’s 300-meter track. The run also was the fastest in NCAA Division III so far this season.

Schermerhorn crossed the finish line ahead of runner-up Catherine Leahy ’25. Leahy, who now competes for NCAA Division I Oakland University as a graduate student, finished in 57.43.

The meet, which featured NCAA Division I, II, III and NAIA competitors, was the first for head coach Jordan Bartolazzi coaching Schermerhorn, a four-time All-American over the past two indoor seasons.

“Sara is an exceptional worker, and she has all the intangibles,” Bartolazzi said. “She knows how to race and how to run with exceptional form.

“It was neat to see Catherine running. I would have loved to get her last year of eligibility this year, but I’m happy for her. She’s at a great school and will continue to do great things.”

The Flying Dutch delivered several more strong performances.

In the 1-mile run invite division, senior Molly Durow picked up where she left off after an All-American cross country season this fall.

Durow (Glenview, Illinois / Glenbrook South) clocked Division III’s top time with a runner-up effort of 4:58.97. Only Gabby Phelan of NCAA Division I Toledo University was faster, at 4:57.3.

Freshman Miranda Sawvel (Laramie, Colorado / Centennial) placed eighth in the event in 5:14.47.

The Flying Dutch posted Division III’s fifth-fastest 4×400 relay, with freshman Jaidyn Klimp (Galesburg, Michigan / Galesburg Augusta), senior Frances Cozzens (Lyman, New Hampshire / St. Johnsbury Academy), freshman Savana Monville (Auburn, Michigan / Bay City Western) and freshman Eliana Kotsonis (Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin / Hamilton) going 4:03.50. The relay finished seventh in the race.

Junior Mary England (Kalamazoo, Michigan / Kalamazoo Central) outraced the field in Heat 2 of the 3,000-meter run, recording a time of 10:20.07 that was sixth-fastest in Division III. England finished ahead of runner-up Jadie Chavez of the Division I University of Illinois at Chicago, who ran 10:32.51.

Freshman Taylor Mitchell (Otsego, Michigan / Otsego) took fourth in the heat at 10:38.00.

In Heat 2 of the 5,000-meter run, freshman Dylan Ballin (Brookville, Ohio / Brookville) led the Flying Dutch with a third-place time of 18:08.83. Ballin ranked 17th in the nation after Friday.

“I was really pleased,” Bartolazzi said. “We had great energy, as the men did. It was a good day for Hope track and field.”

Hope next competes Saturday, Jan. 24, at the Aurora University (Illinois) Grand Prix near Chicago.



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Women’s Indoor Track and Field Starts Action at BU Sharon Colyear-Danvile Season Opener

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BOSTON, MA (December 6, 2025) — The Tufts University women’s track and field team sent a small contingent of distance runners to the opening indoor track and field meet of the 2025-26 season, competing at the 2025 Boston University Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener at the BU Track and Tennis Center. 

Sophomore Phoebe Bryar competed in the women’s 1500 meter run Saturday, and finished 31st overall in a very deep meet with many Division I and II schools competing. Bryar ran a 4:56.36 in the event, while the race continued for a mile time as she chalked up a 5:15.48 for a New England Regional qualifying time and 30th place.

Sonia Olson also ran in the same event, taking 37th in the in the 1500m en route with a 4:59.02. She would close with a time of 5:19.57 in the mile run. 

First-year Zui Chinchalkar ran her first collegiate track race in the 3000 meter run, crossing the line in 10:02.06 for a Division III New England Regional qualifying time. 

Senior Elizabeth Donahue ran a 16:54.83 in the women’s 5000m run, and junior Katya Henisz finished with a 17:13.13. Both times were regional qualifying times, as well as personal-best times in the event. 

Tufts will have a few days off before heading to the Dartmouth College December Invitational Friday, December 12 in Hanover, NH. 


–JUMBOS–

 



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Wildcats Total 10 Blocks in Four-Set Win over [7] South Dakota State

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STANFORD, Calif. – The Arizona Wildcats took down seven-seed South Dakota State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in four sets (25-21, 22-25, 25-15, 25-15) on Friday night in Maples Pavilion to advance to the second round. The win marks Arizona’s first win in the NCAA Tournament since 2016.
 
Arizona recorded 10 blocks and hit .317 to take down the Jackrabbits. Jordan Wilson led Arizona with five blocks and 24 kills with a .340 clip. Carlie Cisneros followed with 18 kills and Sydnie Vanek knocked down 10 kills to round out the offense. Journey Tucker led the Wildcats’ defense with six blocks and also added nine kills.

The Cats won the first set, 25-21. Arizona used multiple runs to hold the lead the entire set over South Dakota State and went on a 3-0 run to end the set. Wilson led the Cats with eight kills and a .353 hitting percentage while Cisneros followed with five kills to help the offense. Arizona totaled three blocks in the opening set to hold the Jackrabbits to a .200 hitting percentage.

 

South Dakota State took the second set, 25-22, to even the match. The Jackrabbits started the set on an 8-0 run to control the set. Cisneros had five kills while three Cats – Britt Carlson, Tucker, and Wilson – recorded two kills each. Tucker tallied four blocks and Wilson had three, but it wasn’t enough to overcome South Dakota State in the set.

 

Arizona took the third set, 25-15, to take a 2-1 lead in the match. The Cats took the lead at 7-6 and hit .405 to keep control for the entire set. Wilson led the attack with seven kills and Vanek followed with five kills and a .571 hitting percentage. Cisneros and Tucker rounded out the offense for Arizona with seven kills between the pair.

 

The Wildcats won the fourth set, 25-15, to secure the match win. Arizona’s offense hit .515 and the Cats used a 4-0 run in the middle of the set to pull away from the Jackrabbits. The offense was led by Wilson with seven kills while Cisneros and Vanek added four kills each. Arizona’s defense only had one block but was able to hold South Dakota State to a .118 hitting percentage in the set.

 

Arizona will face the winner of [2] Stanford vs. Utah Valley in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday, December 6 at 7 p.m. MST in Maples Pavilion.

 



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