David Popovici, nominated for the title of “Swimmer of the Year” also by the European federation

David Popovici was one of the protagonists of 2025, with the two world titles won in Singapore in the 100 and 200 meters. At the continental level, he competed at the U23 European Championships in Samorin, where he prevailed in the same events, also winning a bronze in the 50m freestyle. He also set two new European records in the women's 100m, first stopping the clock in 46.71 and then 46.51.

These performances earned him several nominations for the title of “Swimmer of the Year”. First it appeared on the list of World Aquatics, the world swimming forum, and now it is also on the list of European Aquatics, the European body of this sport.

In addition to swimming, titles will be awarded in open water swimming, diving, high jump, synchronized swimming and polo. Each category will have five nominees, lists approved by the Technical Committee of each discipline.

Fans can vote for David Popovici

The swimming nominees were chosen based on their performances in the 2025 season, which included the World Swimming Championships in Singapore, the World Cup, the European Swimming U23 Championships in Samorin and the European Short Course Championships.

The vote has two components: that of the public will count for 30% of the total, and 70% will be represented by the vote of European Aquatics members and the technical committee. Fans can vote until December 31 on the European Aquatics website and the results will be announced in January 2026.

David Popovici fights with Frenchmen Leon Marchand and Maxime Grousset, Hungarian Hubert Kos and German Lukas Maertens.

Leon Marchand won three world medals in Singapore, two golds in the 200m and 400m medley and a silver in the 4x100m medley relay. Also, the four-time Olympic champion set a new world and European record in the 200m mixed event in the Asian competition. The four-time Olympic champion from Paris has not participated in any European competition this season.

Maxime Grousset won three world medals, two golds in the 50m and 100m butterfly and a bronze in the 4x100m freestyle medley relay. He also set a new European record in the 100m butterfly. Grousset participated in the European Short Course Championships in Lublin, where he won two gold medals in the 100m freestyle and 100m butterfly and three silver medals in the 100m medley, 50m freestyle and 4x50m medley relay.

Hubert Kos won a world gold medal in Singapore in the 200m backstroke with a new European record, and a bronze in the 200m individual medley. The swimmer from Hungary also set two new short course world records in the 100m and 200m backstroke at the World Cup, winning the final standings of this three-stage competition.

Lukas Maertens won the 400m freestyle in Singapore and, a month earlier, had set a new world and European record in this event.

The European body's awards have been given since 2008, and David Popovici was named “European Swimmer of the Year” in 2022. Leon Marchand is last year's winner of this award.

This week, David Popovici received the title of “Sportsman of the Year” in the GSP Survey, winning for the third time, after 2022 and 2024.