The only person from which David Popovici asked for autograph at the World Swimming Championships
After obtaining two gold medals at the World Natation Championships 2025, at the samples of 200 meters free and 100 meters free, and will receive financial rewards of the order of tens of thousands of euros, David Popovici remains the same humble young man in the eyes of Romanian supporters.
David Popovici, the champion of the world. Photo Getty Images
Popovici, the only athlete in history, which is a double world champion for 100 and 200 meters free, within two different editions of the CM, made a gesture that surprised the world of birth. At the end of the Singapore competition, even though he had become the champion of the world, the 20 -year -old swimmer wanted to remain with a special memory. Thus, the Romanian asked for the autograph of his biggest rival, Pan Zhanle.
David Popovici obtained the autograph to Pan Zhanle. Photo Instagram
Alexandre Pussyladi, a well -known commentator from Portugal, was the one who revealed the gesture made by the World Champion. David Popovici was surprised to present the contest card, on which the name and signature of the Chinese swimmer appears. “David Popovici asked for an autograph from Pan Zhanle and I can prove!”, wrote Alexandre Pussyladi, on social networks.
Pan Zhanle's failure, debated: “I'm sure he'll recover!”
The public's favorite before the start of the competition, Pan Zhanle, did not catch any of the 100 and 200 meters free. Adrian Rădulescu, David Popovici's coach, spoke about the bad situation that the Chinese swimmer faced at the Singapore World Championships. The technician reminded the fans that such moments are normal in the career of a performance athlete.
Zhanle and Popovici, holders of the best times in history at 100 m. Photo World Aquatics
“I think the same thing happened as for many of them. I look at him from the perspective of the athlete or the young man, in the end and Pan is 20 years old. You go in February, in the first exchange of a pole, you beat the world record, you are absolutely taken from the pot, then swim the effective test, you win, after which the Olympic games come, At 100 free, you catch the last and in the final you win in a second difference.
The results came too suddenly for Chinese Zhanle
And beat the world record for almost half a second. And then comes the pole that, next to the team, you win. And then it comes, what to see, a little holiday and the Asian games, the Chinese championship in the short basin, the World Cup, where you win the 800 m free and so on. I understand it, it is not easy to constantly mount, to be on a continuous fire, but I am sure it will come back.
He may have an extra kilogram or two, he may have a bit so psychic fatigue. For us, every time we had, let's say, a failure or a step back, that threw us forward. And I think the same thing will be for him! ”, He said, quoted by GSP.ro, Adrian Rădulescu.
