Article by David Istrate – Published on Wednesday, 01 April 2026 20:40 / Updated on Wednesday, 01 April 2026 20:41
Luca Hoek (18), the new hope of Spanish swimming, said that David Popovici is his idol, being impressed both by the way he swims and by the way he thinks.
At 18 years old, Luca Hoek, originally from San Pedro de Ribas, a town near Barcelona, holds the national record for 50 m (21.93 seconds) and 100 m freestyle (48.04 seconds). He won 6 medals at the European Junior Championships, including gold in the 100m freestyle (2025) and silver in the 50m freestyle (2024).
Thanks to these performances, Hoek is considered the new hope of Spanish swimming. On March 12, at the Spring Open Championships, he ran the 50 meters in 21.93 seconds, making it into the top 10 all-time in the U19 category.
Luka Hoek, impressed by David Popovici: “He is very balanced”
In an interview for the famous publication Marca, Hoek declared that David Popovici is his idol.
“He has always been Popovici, because of the way he swims, but also because of the way he thinks, the man he is. He is very balanced“, said the 18-year-old swimmer.
Hoek wants to be at the Los Angeles Olympics and has big plans:
“We're halfway through the Olympic cycle and there's still two years until then. It's time to gain experience and see if I can arrive well prepared. I'm aware that the events I'm swimming in are extremely competitive. In the 100m freestyle, there has never been such a concentration of talent in history. I am motivated to become the first Spanish sprinter to win a medal. This is what I work for.”
At the end of the interview, when asked if swimming is a sport intended only for solitary people, Hoek answered as follows:
“Partly, yes, because it's up to you. If you wake up one day and you don't want to train, there's no one there to force you. That's why it's so much about your attitude. But there's also a group aspect to the gym, it's fantastic when we're all together. Without the group we have, it would be difficult.”
