David Popovici, aged 21, is set to compete at the European Swimming Championships in Paris next week. He is targeting a remarkable milestone: his third consecutive gold medal double in the 100-meter and 200-meter freestyle events.
Departing for Paris on August 7, Popovici will participate in his fourth European Championships, having previously competed in 2021, 2022, and 2024. He secured two gold medals in both the 100m and 200m freestyle events in 2021 and 2022, returning home with accolades from Belgrade and Rome.
Popovici Seeks to Defend Titles in Freestyle Events
This year in Paris, Popovici has the opportunity to become the first swimmer in history to achieve a third double in the 100m and 200m events at the European Championships. While several athletes have won multiple titles in these two categories over the years, none have managed this specific feat.
Notably, Pieter van den Hoogenband from the Netherlands holds four titles in the 200 meters freestyle (1999, 2002, 2004, 2006), while Germany’s Paul Biedermann has three titles in the same event (2008, 2010, 2012). Additionally, Aleksandr Popov from Russia has five gold medals in the 100 meters freestyle (1991, 1993, 1995, 1997, 2000), and Italy’s Filippo Magnini has three medals in the event (2004, 2006, 2012).
However, no one has accomplished the double win in both 100 and 200 meters at the European Championships three times. Popovici currently matches Peter Nocke from Germany (1974, 1977) and Pieter van den Hoogenband (1999, 2002) with his past performances.
Training with Rival Pan Zhanle
In the weeks leading up to the Championships, Popovici trained alongside Pan Zhanle, his rival and reigning Olympic champion in the 100m freestyle. According to swimswam.com, there is a consensus that Popovici is the clear favorite for the 200m freestyle. However, they also express skepticism about a gold medal finish, stating, “There will be a race in this event – but most likely it will not be for gold.”
Popovici’s previous performances have drawn praise, notably his triumphs at the Settecolli Trophy in Rome in June, where he won both the 100m freestyle (47.26 seconds) and the 200m freestyle (1:44.48). Following this, he underwent an uncommon training camp in Bucharest with Zhanle, where the two pushed each other in the pool and formed a friendship outside of it.
David Popovici’s Competition Schedule at the 2026 Championships
11 August – Heats, semifinals for 100m freestyle
12 August – Final for 100m freestyle
13 August – Heats, semifinals for 200m freestyle
14 August – Final for 200m freestyle
Notable Swimmers with Multiple Doubles at European Championships
László Cseh (200-400m individual medley) – 4 titles (2006, 2008, 2010, 2012)
Adam Peaty (50-100m breaststroke) – 4 titles (2014, 2016, 2018, 2020)
Tamás Darnyi (200-400m individual medley) – 3 titles (1985, 1987, 1989)
Aleksandr Popov (50-100m freestyle) – 3 titles (1993, 1995, 1997)
Kristof Milak (100-200m butterfly) – 3 titles (2020, 2022, 2024)
