David Popovici starts the race for medals at the natation world. The program of the samples to which the Romanian star competes
David Popovici starts on Monday in search of a world medal, the first after three years of waiting. The Romanian star, winner of the 100 and 200 m free samples in 2022, in Budapest, has not climbed the podium since then: in 2023, in Fukuoka, ranked below in the 3rd place in both races, so that in Doha 2024 he would not participate at all.
David Popovici has won without problems for Europeans under 23 years old. Facebook photo
The Romanian took revenge last year, obtaining the Olympic gold at 200 m free and the bronze at 100 m free, so that the time has come for David Popovici to regain his champion crowns, at the World Swimming Championships, which will take place between July 27 and August 3. His strengths: the fact that this season has shattered everything in the way: at the European U23 championships in Samorin, he made second time in history in the regain test, and at 200 m free he recorded the best time in the world this year.
The specialists in see the Romanian swimmer as a favorite in his “specialty” test, while at 100 m free is the one who can stop the supremacy of the Chinese Pan Zhanle, the owner of the Olympic medal and the world record (46.40 seconds) on 100 meters.
Apart from David Popovici, Romania is represented at the Singapore's birth World Cup by only one athlete, Denis Popescu. European champion U23 at 100 m butterfly at Samorin, it will compete in 4 samples: 50 m butterfly, 100 m back, 100 m butterfly and 50 m back.
David Popovici will enter the competition on Monday, July 28, from 06.24, according to the announcement of the organizers. He will swim in the series from 200 m free, for the semifinals to be scheduled on the same day, from 15.07 and 15.13. The last act will take place on Tuesday, July 29, from 14.02. On Wednesday and Thursday, our swimmer will be involved in the series, semifinals and final from 100 m free, so that on Friday and Saturday they will evolve at 50 m free. His races and Denis Popescu are broadcast by TVR Sport.
The full program of the evidence to which David Popovici will compete
200 m free (July 28 and 29)
Monday – 6.24 (series)
Monday – 15.07 or 15.13 (semifinals)
Tuesday – 14.02 (final)
100 m free (July 30 and 31)
Wednesday – 05.52 (series)
Wednesday – 14.26 or 14.31 (semifinals)
Thursday – 2 pm (final)
50 m free (1 and 2 August)
Friday – 06.21 (series)
Friday – 14.33 or 14.37 (semifinals)
Saturday – 14.09 (final)
