David Popovici, Romania’s Rising Teenage Star, Sets Two National Records at World Cup
Three months after he acquitted himself superbly at the Olympic Games in Tokyo, Romanian teenager David Popovici produced a pair of national records while racing at the FINA World Cup stop in Kazan from Thursday through Saturday. The 17-year-old established national records in the 100 freestyle and 200 freestyle, clocking respective performances of 46.77 and 1:43.58.
Although his near-flawless stroke is best equipped for the long-course pool, Popovici was fifth in the 100 free and 200 free during World Cup competition. During the 100 freestyle, Australian Kyle Chalmers set a world record, erasing the longstanding mark of Frenchman Amaury Leveaux. Popovici will continue to see action in Kazan at this week’s European Short Course Championships.
Popovici is one of the brightest rising stars in the sport and just missed out on a medal in the 200 freestyle at the Tokyo Games. Popovici finished fourth in that final, his time of 1:44.68 just .02 off the bronze-medal time of Brazilian Fernando Scheffer. Popovici also finished seventh in the final of the 100 freestyle, an event in which he owns the world junior record at 47.30.
Popovici’s next opportunity at international hardware in the long-course pool will be at next year’s World Championships in Fukuoka, Japan.