Female swimmer Yang Yu was born on February 6, 1985 in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province. She entered Zhejiang provincial swimming team in 1996 and the national swimming team in 1999.

In 1999, she won the championships in women’s 200m freestyle and 4×200m freestyle relay at the 4th National Intercity Games. In May 2001, she won the first place in women’s 200m freestyle and 4×100m freestyle relay at the 3rd East Asian Games. In April 2002, she won the championship in women’s 4×200m freestyle relay, and the runners-up in women’s 200m freestyle and butterfly at the 6th FINA Short Course World Championships.

In 2002, she won the championships in women’s 200m freestyle, 4×100m and 4×200m freestyle relay, and the runner-up in women’s 100m freestyle at the 14th Asian Games held in Busan.