David Popovici returned to the water a fortnight after the nature of his double World Championship triumph evoked memories of Ian Thorpe to set the pace in the 200 free at the European Junior Championships in his native Romania.
The 17-year-old went 1:43.21 in Budapest, a new world junior record but notably became the fourth-fastest man in history over 200 behind only the shiny-suited world record of Paul Biedermann (1:42.00), Michael Phelps (1:42.96) and Yannick Agnel, whose 1:43.14 at the 2012 Olympics is the textile standard.
- David Popovici Turns Attention to Hometown European Juniors
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The European juniors in Bucharest are the second in a four-meet season for Popovici who will then move on to the senior showcase in Rome next month and the World Junior Championships in Lima, Peru, from the end of August.
On Tuesday he went 1:48.75 to lead the field into the semis at the Otopeni complex ahead of Italy’s Lorenzo Galossi (1:49.65) and Hungarian Daniel Meszaros (1:49.81).
Ksawery Masiuk headed the boys’ 50 back in 24.81, a race in which he won bronze in Budapest albeit briefly elevated to silver following the DQ of Justin Ress before the American was reinstated to gold.
Krzysztof Chmielewski led the way in his defence of the 200 fly in 1:56.96 ahead of twin brother and 2021 silver medallist Michal who clocked 1:58.43.
Italy booked lane four in the 4×100 free with Francesco Lazzari’s anchor leg of 49.44 guiding them to 3:21.29 ahead of Croatia and France.
Koen de Groot leads the 50br in 27.84.
Eneli Jefimova – sixth at worlds – led the women’s 50br in 30.50, Nikoletta Padar heads the girls’ field in 2:01.31 with Lisa Nystrand setting the pace in the 400IM (4:49.15) and Mary-Ambre Moluh in the 50 back (28.20).
Italy also heads the women’s 4×100 free relay into tonight’s final in 3:43.75 with Dora Molnar‘s 55.11 the fastest split of the field on the Hungary lead-off to book lane five with Britain third through.