Romanian Swimmer David Popovici
Romania’s fastest swimmer ever has started off on the right foot in summer competitions
Florin Orban, 30.06.2026, 13:45
Italian capital Rome, last week hosted the first major swimming contest this summer, the Settecolli Trophy, which brought together a good part of the world’s swimming elite, which obtained excellent results in the competition. Several records were broken including the one in the women’s 100 meter free-style race, held by the Dutch swimmer Marrit Steenbergen. The competition was also attended by Romania’s best swimmer David Popovici, who four years ago in the same location, broke the world record in the 100 meter race of the European Championship.
David won medals in all the events he attended at Settecolli. On Friday he came second in the 50 meter free-style race. On Saturday, he compelled recognition in the 100 meter race which he ended in 47 seconds and 26 hundredths, a record in the aforementioned competition. On Sunday he won the 200 meter race in one minute, 44 seconds and 48 hundredths, another record of the competition and the best time of the season. For his results, Radio Romania International has designated David Popovici, athlete of the week.
At the age of 22, Popovici is Romania’s best swimmer so far. He was born in Bucharest on September 15, 2004 and compelled recognition in junior competitions in 2021. At the European Championship in Rome he won the 200, 100 and 50 meter free-style races. He also managed to set a world record in the 50 meter race.
He managed to qualify for the Olympics in Tokyo, where he went fourth in the 200 meter race and only two hundredths prevented him from winning the bronze medal.
He won his first major title in a senior competition in November 2021 when he became European champion in the 200 meter free-style race in Kazan, Russia. In 2022, he managed an excellent show at the World Championships in Budapest. The two titles he won in Budapest, in the 100 and 200 meter races, were a first for the Romanian swimming. At the European Championship in Rome in August, he ended the 100 meter race in 46 seconds and 86 hundredths, setting a new world record.
At the Olympics in Paris Popovici became the new Olympic champion of the 200 meter free-style race and got bronze in the 100 meter race. Last year in the 22nd edition of the World Swimming Championships in Singapore, he won gold in both the 100 and 200 meter races.
(bill)
