Article by Roxana Fleşeru – published Wednesday, April 09, 2025, 22:52 / Updated Wednesday, April 9, 2025:52
Patrick Dinu (19 years old) has achieved his best time in the 50 -meter freely at the Otopeni National Championships, being the second after David Popovici.
Patrick Dinu is in the first year at Princeton University in the US, but during this time he participates in the National Championships in Otopeni.
His first sample was 50 meters free, where he managed twice to improve his best time. The first time in the series 22.57 s and the second time in the final, with a 22.40 s. His previous performance was 22.76 s.
He was the second after David Popovici, who managed a new national record, 21.83. “I am very pleased with this sample, it was a best best in the morning and another one in the evening. Very satisfied, I have no reason to complain ”, Patrick said after the race.
How was it to compete with David again? “Fun, as usual. All the time it is a competitive, but at the same time relaxed atmosphere.
David Popovici next to Patrick Dinu at the end of the 50 m free sample at the National Championships from Otopeni Photo Roxana Fleșeru
What goals does this year have? “First and foremost, to qualify for the European Championships Under-23 and with this time I think I just succeeded. I admit that not 50 was the test, but 100 meters free was the objective test, but I am very happy and I hope to succeed at 100 with a little speed, to make my scale for the World Senior Championships, why not?”he revealed.
Patrick Dinu about US life
The athlete born in Constanța and trained by Răzvan Florea reached Princeton thanks to a complete academic scholarship, not a sports scholarship. How do you reconcile studies with swimming training? “It is quite a lot to learn, I will not lie to you, but the workouts are going very well. I find time for everything I have to do, workouts, school, themes, exams, social life, I do “, he pointed out.
What has learned since in the United States? “To be more relaxed. It seems to me that before I was a little too serious about competitions. Maybe I went too much in my head, I was thinking too much in time, I learned to be much more relaxed, the boys in the team taught me to be much more released. I see,” Patrick Dinu explained. He revealed that he wants to have his license in neuroscience.
It seems to me a good thing. If you want to do the best school in the world and you want to do a sport at a very, very high level, I think at the moment the United States is the most suitable for this –Patrick Dinu
