“It has a great connection with water”

• Roxana Fleșeru, the reporter of the Sports Gazette, is in Singapore, from where the best information about the World Natation Championships.

Jack Alexy and David Popovici, in this order, managed the best times of the semifinals at 100 m free, 48.81 s, respectively 46.84. They will be neighbors of color, 4 and 5, in the final of Thursday, when the title of the Swimming Sample is put into play.

David already has a profile accentuated in this sport, gathering the title and another Olympic medal, different colors in world and European championships. However, Jack has progressed visibly in recent years, and in Singapore he has come in a form that impresses.

Some less known aspects of his life and career sketch an interesting portrait, in which the examples in the world of sport they relate have an important and distinct role.

Jack Alexy, the sports family and the Golden Bear tattoo

The athletic qualities, for example, are a family inheritance for Jack Alexy. His impressive physique and sports skills could be watched over time to his grandfather, Bill Ebbenwho played eight matches in the NBA, after it was the third choice in Draft for Detroit Pistons in 1957-58.

The sports gene has been transmitted to Alexy's mother, Lynn Ebbenwho was a play leader for the Basketball team of the Notre Dame College in the 1980s, with whom he won two conference titles.

Continuing this sports tradition, Alexy I joined the swimming team of California-Berkeley's University, his brother, Rob Alexy.

Jack Alexy and the tattoo with the golden teddy bear photo photo: Instagram

The horse swimming team has a tradition: the swimmers make a tattoo the golden bear if they gather points in the NCAA. Alexy came to the horse bringing a huge reputation with him, but as a boyfriend he failed to raise any point.

He revised his mentality, diet and training regime, which helped him to be great in the next season.

“I approached every workout with this mentality, asking me: “What do I do today in the next two hours I have in the water to reach the Olympic team or for the World Cup or to win an Olympic medal?”“He told NBC Sports.

“If I hadn't had that failure of the first year, I couldn't get where I am now', he added.

After the 2023 World Championships, when he won the gold medal with the 4×100 m free US pole, Alexy could finally tattoo a golden bear on his left shoulder.

How David Popovici helped him to progress

Another factor that helped to improve was the incorporation of lessons learned from David Popovici.

The Romanian, who became a champion of the world at 100 m free in 2022, in Budapest, and is the former holder of the world record, spends a lot of time in the water.

“David Popovici sits so much in water, has a great connection with water“, Alexy told Swimswam.

Jack Alexy after semi -final at 100 m free won at CM 2025 Photo: Gettyimages

“It is very important for me – not necessarily to gather meters traveled, but only to be in the water and do exercises, to float, to use balance techniques, this helped me a lot. Doing everything at training with the intention of becoming better, and not just passing through the movements, it really helped me too“He pointed out.

Jack Alexy, motivated by David Goggins

David Goggins He is a former member of the special forces of the American Navy (Navy), converted into the athlete, writer and motivational guru, who has become popular in recent years for his simple, direct vision.

Alexy was impressed by his teachings and tries to guide his life as a sportsman according to Goggins's principles.

“One of the things you preach is to be your best version, not to look back and to be haunted by ghost“he told USA Swimming.

“I do not want to look back and believe that if I put 10% more effort every day, it could have made a big difference. I want to be my best variant in the pool and outside it. I truly believe in that and so I try to live my life every day with every decision I make“Said Alexy.