Lian Yunzhi, a six-year-old from China, recorded a 4.06-second average solve time across five regulation Rubik's Cube attempts, claiming the women's world record in the 3x3x3 category. The mark, ratified by the World Cube Association at a December competition in Zhejiang Province, makes her the youngest female record-holder in the discipline's modern era and the fastest woman globally by average time. Her single-fastest solve clocked 3.87 seconds.
The previous women's record stood at 4.17 seconds, set by American cuber Lexi Robinson in September. Lian's 0.11-second improvement narrows the gap with the men's record—3.81 seconds average, held by South Korea's Park Jae-min—to 0.25 seconds, the tightest margin between men's and women's marks in a decade. She trains six hours daily under private coaching in Hangzhou, her family told state media, part of a cohort of pre-teen Asian cubers now dominating youth rankings. China produced 11 of the top 20 global youth speedcubers in 2024, per WCA data.
The record arrives as speedcubing inches toward Olympic inclusion. The International Olympic Committee placed "mind sports" on its 2028 evaluation shortlist in November, and the WCA submitted a formal bid in January targeting Los Angeles or Brisbane. Sponsorship in the category remains thin—Red Bull backs three top-tier athletes, MoYu Cube sponsors another eight—but youth records drive viewership spikes. Lian's solve video passed 12 million views on Douyin within 72 hours, and her Weibo account gained 400,000 followers over the weekend, most ages 18-34 per platform analytics. That demo matches the target for youth sports betting apps launching in Asia this quarter, though speedcubing remains outside regulated wagering markets.
Her age raises familiar questions about early specialization. Lian began training at age four after her father, a software engineer and recreational cuber, noticed she could complete beginner solves in under 30 seconds without instruction. She now uses CFOP method algorithms—78 distinct sequences—and her coach told Chinese media she can execute the "sexy move" finger trick faster than most adult competitors. Her family declined interview requests from Western outlets, routing inquiries through a Beijing-based sports management firm that represents two other youth WCA record-holders. The firm, Apex Mind Sports, raised a $4 million Series A in August from Sequoia China and announced plans to sign 10-12 athletes under age 12 by March.
Watch whether Lian's family accepts commercial offers before she turns seven in April. WCA rules permit sponsorships for athletes of any age, but China's Ministry of Education restricts endorsement income for children under eight, creating a six-month window for deals structured as trust payments. MoYu Cube, the Guangdong-based puzzle manufacturer with 62% global market share, typically offers youth phenoms $15,000–$25,000 annually plus equipment. The next WCA Asian Championship is set for July in Singapore; Lian would be eligible to compete in the open division, where age groupings disappear and the women's record becomes a footnote.
Park Jae-min, the men's record-holder, turned professional at age 10 and now earns mid-six figures from tutorials, exhibitions, and cube sales. He hasn't competed in 11 months.
The takeaway
A six-year-old set the women's speedcubing record at **4.06 seconds**, tightening the gender gap to **0.25 seconds** as Asia's youth pipeline pressures Olympic inclusion timelines.
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