This is the Swim Poll of the Week for Tuesday, August 9, 2022, sponsored by Strechcordz Swim Training Products. In our last poll, we wanted to know: Will David Popovici break the world record in the men’s 100 freestyle at the European Championships?
At the World Championships in June, 17-year-old David Popovici won a pair of individual gold medals. First, he won the 200 freestyle in 1:43.21, setting a new world junior record while swimming the fastest time by anyone in nine years, and a day later, he went 47.13 in the 100 free semifinals, another world junior record and just short of the European record and putting himself in position to challenge Cesar Cielo’s 13-year-old world record in the event. In the final, Popovici swam several tenths slower, but he still secured the gold medal.
Popovici will be in action at another championship meet this week as he races at the European Championships in Rome. He will be the heavy favorite for gold in both the 100 and 200 free, but could he take a shot at the long-standing 100 free world record that has survived since the days of full-body polyurethane suits? He has already recorded 10 swims under 48 seconds in his career. His performances at the World Championships and at other meets over the past year have made him one of the faces of men’s freestyle swimming, and he could continue his pursuit of world records for years to come.
Swim Poll of the Week: Will David Popovici break the world record in the men’s 100 freestyle at the European Championships?
Yes — 29%
No — 71%