Article by Roxana Fleşeru – published Wednesday, August 20, 2025 23:06 / Updated Thursday, August 21, 2025 00:36
Robert Badea (17 years old) ranked the seventh place at 200 m mixed and told about the things he went through. Aissia Priscariu (17 years old), sixth place at 100 m back, says she is in a stage where she tries to gain more self-confidence. The Italian Carlos d'Ambrosio set a new record of the competition at 200 m free (1: 45,15), correcting a performance established by David Popovici in Lima, in 2022 (1: 46,16).
The third day of the World Junior Championships in Otopeni was one full of emotions and finals, no less than nine samples designating their podiums. Romania had three swimmers in the competition: on Daria Silișteanu and Aissia Priscariu at 100 m back and on Robert Badea at 200 m mixed.
Daria won the silver with a new national record, 1: 00.02, while Aissia was six with 1: 00.59. Club colleague at Dinamo with Silișteanu, Priscariu spoke about his race:
“It was a very interesting final, I am glad that I could participate and that I had this experience. I certainly have many things to improve and learn. I tried not to let the emotions overwhelm me.”
She added: “I remain with the experience and things that I know I have to improve and I will do this in training. It is a stage I had to go through to gain more confidence.”
Daria Silișteanu and Aissia Prisecariu at the end of the 100 m rear race from CM PHOTO CRISTI Preda
The athlete also said that it was complicated to reach this competition: “For me it was a year with ups and downs, full of many intense emotions, with which I have to work.”
Robert Badea, a European junior vice champion at 200 m mixed, ended the final in the sixth place with a time of 2: 01.26. “It was a tiring race. In the series I gave everything and in the final I gave everything, but for that we train. Standing this race feels, and after a hundred meters it was cut. To take another hundred meters after you gave you the spirit, clearly it does not work that way.”said the swimmer in his last year of junior. He will compete in the 400 m mixed test, scheduled on August 23.
Robert Badea swimming the rear process in the final from 200 m mixed photo Cristi Preda
David Popovici's record corrected at Otopeni
Also on Wednesday, in the Otopeni basin, Carlos d'Ambrosio (18 years old) set a new record of the competition at 200 m free (1: 45,15). The old record belonged to David Popovici and had been established in Lima, in 2022 (1: 46,16). Prior to the competition in South America, the Romanian swam 1: 42.97, this being the world record of juniors that is still in force.
“It is an honor for me to beat this record, but he has swimming a better time, has a world record at 100 m, has a worldwide record for 200 m free. I am happy because I improved my personal record, I won the gold, although at first I had some cramps in the first meters of the race ”, said the Italian.
He also had the opportunity to be in a race with David Popovici: “I was in the final with him in Singapore. I was the sixth, he first, of course. I am pleased that I had the opportunity to swim with him,” concluded D'Ambrosio.
On the third day of world junior championships, nine Romanians will compete: eight in the morning session and one in the evening, Andrei Proca will evolve in the fast series at 800 m free, the others entering the normal series.
Romanians in the contest on the third day at the cm of juniors
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Eva Paraschiv – 50 m butterfly – 9:42 Series 8
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Denisa Bacalu – 50 m butterfly – 9.44 – Series 9
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Iordache Tudor – 50 m back 10:01 – Series 8
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Tamara Lospa- 100 m bras- 10: 18- Series 6
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Daria Asaftei- 100 m Bras- 10.21- Series 7
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Darius Trenchea -50 m free -10.42 -Series 12
Daria Silișteanu – 200 m back – 11.03 – Series 5
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Aissia Prisecariu – 200 m back – 11:07 – Series 6
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Competition is transmitted by TVR Sport
