David Popovici Opens Romanian Championships with Title in 50 Freestyle; Two National Records Fall
With his top events scheduled for later in the meet, David Popovici eased into the Romanian Championships on Wednesday by topping the field in the 50-meter freestyle. The 21-year-old registered a time of 22.02 for the one-lap sprint, an effort that handed Popovici a victory over Patrick Dinu (22.33). Third place went to Mihai Gergely in 22.69.
The reigning Olympic and world champion in the 200 freestyle, Popovici owns a personal-best performance of 21.83 in the 50 freestyle, and he wasn’t far off that mark during his initial event of Nationals. Popovici is slated to contest the 200 freestyle on Thursday and will be in action in the 100 freestyle on Saturday. Popovici is also the reigning world champion in the 100 freestyle, where he owns the second-fastest time in history at 46.51.
While Popovici emerged victorious in the 50 freestyle, Robert Badea prevailed in the 200 individual medley, setting a Romanian record in the process. Badea touched the wall in 1:58.86, which was more than two seconds ahead of the 2:01.42 of Matei State. Badea is also the Romanian record-holder in the 400 IM.
A national record went down in the women’s 100 backstroke, as Daria Silisteanu covered her two laps in 59.63. On the men’s side, the 100 backstroke title was earned by Denis Popescu in 53.99, with Alexandru Constantinescu following in 54.59.
Iarina Cojocaru was the winner of the women’s 200 IM in 2:16.63 and Theodora Dumitru claimed top honors in the women’s 50 freestyle, going 25.63. Andrei Proca won the men’s 800 freestyle in 7:55.80.