China's Swimming Prodigy Yu Zidi, 'Thai Bolt' Puripol Boonson Named Asian Games MVPs

China's 13-year-old swimming prodigy Yu Zidi and Thai sprint star Puripol Boonson have emerged as the brightest stars of the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.

The organizing committee announced today (October 4) that Yu, a triple gold medalist in individual swimming events, and Boonson, a double champion in short-distance track events, have been selected as the MVPs of the Asian Games, respectively.

The honor of the Women's MVP went to Yu Zidi, a 13-year-old Chinese girl who is making waves in the global swimming world.

Yu claimed three gold medals at the games, repeatedly breaking meet records in events such as the women's 200m butterfly (2:05.08) and the 400m individual medley (4:28.56).

Having set a milestone as the youngest-ever medalist by winning a bronze at the 2025 World Aquatics Championships in Singapore at the age of 12, she has once again proven herself to be Asia's top talent by winning the Asian Games MVP.

The Men's MVP was claimed by Puripol Boonson, who wrote a new chapter in Asian sprint history.

Often dubbed the "Thai Bolt" after track legend Usain Bolt, Boonson swept both the men's 100m and 200m titles at the games.

He stood at the top of the podium in the men's 100m final with an Asian Games record of 9.90 seconds, and subsequently crossed the finish line in 19.88 seconds in the 200m final to win the title, equaling the Asian record.

Dominating the track with overwhelming speed, Boonson perfectly demonstrated his competitiveness on the global stage, showcasing his status as Asia's premier sprinter.

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.