Article by Roxana Fleşeru, Adrian Duţă – published on Saturday, June 28, 2025, 20:40 / Updated on Saturday, June 28, 2025 20:58
Last year, the Chinese finished with a time of 46.40 seconds the 100m free race. Quiet after a new medal, David Popovici said the records are made to be shot down, trusting that he can get a better time than Pan in the future.
In fact, until last year, David Popovici had the world record at 100m free. He had succeeded in 2022, at European in Rome. Then, the Romanian champion finished the race in 46.86 seconds. Now, in Samorim, David Popovici has shot down his best time and has set a new European record for the Queen Swimming.
VIDEO. David Popovici: “I am the first man who went under 23 on the first length”
“Time is a very good one, clearly, we are very happy. But what we realized immediately after, when they took a bit of blood for analysis, I looked at my coach on the split of the two 50s and I saw that I finally went on the second length below 24 seconds.
That is, I am the first man who went under 23 on the first length and under 24 per second, which for us means more than the time of 46.71.
Tocillary stuff, small details of ours. We didn't prepare anything, we didn't train too much for this competition.
I tried on my own to figure out what's different at this competition. And I came to a simple conclusion: I am quiet, I am fine with my life, the world around me is fine, the family is healthy, friends are with me. As long as I have that, I can focus.
I also heard a drum, even though it is not the largest stand in the world, it was felt as if there were many more people, thanks to the many Romanians. I heard them all, “said David Popovici.
David Popovici: “This is beauty, nothing is permanent”
“The records are made to be shot down. As I wanted when I was younger to beat the world record, I did it later, it is the same. The records are made to be shot down, sooner or later.
When I beat the record, it had been 13-14 years since it had been established. He had been in 2009, I beat him in 2022, in 2024 he was beaten. This is beauty, nothing is permanent, ”said David Popovici.
David Popovici, thanks for the Romanian fans
“I loaded with too much positive energy, I had to show them people's gratitude.
They were next to me, they screamed for me. La Singapore is just another competition. At the end of the day there is nothing different, it's just another race. If I think so, it's good, “said David Popovici.
