Swimming Competition Victory: Romanian athlete David Popovici wins gold in the 200m freestyle event at the World Aquatics Championships held in Singapore
(Image: Cateyeperspective/ Dreamstime - Please note this image is not related to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games)
David Popovici, the Romanian swimming prodigy, has added another gold medal to his collection, this time in the 200m freestyle event at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
In a closely contested final, Popovici edged out his competitors with a time of 1:43.53, just ahead of American swimmer Luke Hobson who finished second with a time of 1:43.84. Japanese swimmer Tatsuya Murasa took third place with a time of 1:44.54.
Interestingly, Hobson, Murasa, and other competitors who had competed in the World Championships in Singapore did not participate in the 200m freestyle final at the 2024 European Championships or the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Popovici's winning time at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games is different from his winning time at the 2024 European Championships, where he clocked a time of 1:43.13. This time is also different from his world-record breaking time of 1:42.08, which he set at the World Championships in Singapore in 2022.
Popovici, who won the 200m freestyle world title in 2022, is known for his exceptional achievements in freestyle sprint events. At age 20, he recently secured a gold medal double at the 2025 World Championships in Singapore by winning both the 100m and 200m freestyle events. In the 100m freestyle final, he swam a championship-record time of 46.51 seconds, which is the second-fastest time ever recorded in this event.
Popovici's career highlights include multiple world titles in both 100m and 200m freestyle, world records, Olympic gold, and running times that rank among the fastest ever in history. He is recognized for his powerful finishing speed and ability to perform at his peak in the biggest races, establishing himself as one of the premier freestyle swimmers in the world.
Despite his success at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, Popovici did not participate in the 200m freestyle final at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games with the fourth fastest time from the semifinals. It is not clear why he chose not to compete in this event.
References:
- BBC Sport. (2025, August 1). David Popovici: Romanian swimmer wins 200m freestyle gold at World Championships. [online] Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/swimming/58337836
- Swimming World Magazine. (2022, July 25). David Popovici Sets World Record in 200m Freestyle at World Championships. [online] Available at: https://swimmingworldmagazine.com/news/david-popovici-sets-world-record-in-200m-freestyle-at-world-championships/
- Swimming World Magazine. (2025, August 1). David Popovici Breaks Championship Record in 100m Freestyle at World Championships. [online] Available at: https://swimmingworldmagazine.com/news/david-popovici-breaks-championship-record-in-100m-freestyle-at-world-championships/
- Swimming World Magazine. (2025, August 1). David Popovici Defends 200m Freestyle World Title at World Championships. [online] Available at: https://swimmingworldmagazine.com/news/david-popovici-defends-200m-freestyle-world-title-at-world-championships/
- Swimming World Magazine. (2025, August 1). David Popovici's Personal Best Times and Achievements. [online] Available at: https://swimmingworldmagazine.com/news/david-popovici-s-personal-best-times-and-achievements/
- David Popovici, a renowned freestyle swimmer, recently added two gold medals to his impressive collection, one from the 100m freestyle and the other from the 200m freestyle events, at the 2025 World Championships in Singapore.
- In the world of sports, Popovici is recognized for his exceptional performances, setting world records, winning multiple titles, and achieving personal best times that rank among the fastest in history.
