Adrian Radulescu, Coach of David Popovici, Discusses Phenom’s Career on Inside with Brett Hawke Podcast
While this past summer featured several eye-opening performances, including world records from Kristof Milak (200 butterfly) and Thomas Ceccon (100 backstroke), Romanian teenager David Popovici was the undisputed star of the sport. Under the guidance of coach Adrian Radulescu, Popovici lowered the world record in the 100 freestyle and registered the third-fastest time in history in the 200 freestyle. His summer also included gold medals in the 100 free and 200 free at the World Championships in Budapest.
In the latest episode of the Inside with Brett Hawke Podcast, Radulescu joins the two-time Australian Olympian and eponymous host to discuss a variety of topics. Of course, the evolution of Popovici is primary focus and Radulescu discusses what he has seen from his protégé through the years, all the way to his current status as a world-record holder and multi-time world champion.
During the discussion with Hawke, Radulescu talks about the training of Popovici when he was 14 years old and how he got a teenager to buy into what he was establishing from the deck. Additionally, Radulescu and Hawke converse about Popovici’s mentality, a 200 freestyle race-pace set that was part of training and how Popovici is knocking on the door of closing his 100 freestyle with a 23-second back half.
The full interview can be heard by clicking here, or by visiting the link below.
The Inside with Brett Hawke Podcast is an official partner of Swimming World Magazine and the International Swimming Hall of Fame.