David Popovici Soars To Top Of 200 Free Rankings With 1:43; Schwarz & Vanotterdijk Top The Podium
David Popovici made his fourth journey inside 1:44 to take the 200 free title in 1:43.64 at the European Aquatics U23 Swimming Championships in Samorin, Slovakia.
Popovici was fastest through the heats in 1:46.84 with Bulgaria’s Petar Mitsin – the 2023 European junior champion – booking the adjacent lane in 1:46.99.
David Popovici: Photo Courtesy: Deepbluemedia
Come the final and the Olympic champion was in clear water: 0.65 ahead at the first turn, Popovici had extended his lead to 0.99 at halfway before moving further away to clinch the title. Mitsin was second in 1:46.48 and Charlie Hutchison of Great Britain third in 1:46.84.
Popovici’s PB stands at 1:42.97 en-route to European gold in a textile WR in 2022 followed by efforts of 1:43.13 at the 2024 Europeans and 1:43.21 at the 2022 Budapest worlds.
With that, Popovici propelled himself top of the rankings ahead of the World Championships in Singapore, displacing Paris bronze medallist Luke Hobson who clocked 1:43.73 at the US Championships.
With victory, the 20-year-old made it a sweep of crowns available to him in senior long-course waters. Olympic glory at Paris 2024 followed world gold at Budapest 2022, a few short weeks before he soared to the European title at the Foro Italico. World and European junior titles have also come his way although Ed Mildred beat Popovici to the 2019 European Youth Olympic gold.
In fact, the only title missing from his collection beyond junior competition is the world short-course title, having finished second behind Hwang Sun-woo at Melbourne 2022.
Schwarz Dominates For Another Sub-14:40; Golden Double For Vanotterdiijk
Sven Schwarz is a member of the Magdeburg powerhouse that also numbers Florian Wellbrock and Oliver Klemet with the trio occupying the first sub-14:40 podium in 1500 free history at the German Championships in May.
That followed his European 800 free record of 7:38.12 when he took 0.07 off Daniel Wiffen’s mark en-route to Olympic gold. On Thursday in Slovakia, Schwarz completely dominated the longest race in the pool to win in 14:38.96, the fourth-fastest in the world this year and outstripped only by his own season’s best of 14:36.82 and Wellbrock’s 14:36.25 rankings topper and 14:38.27 at the Swim Open Stockholm. Emile Vincent was the only other man inside 15mins in 14:59.62.
Roos Vanotterdijk: Photo Courtesy: Royal Belgian Swimming Federation
Roos Vanotterdijk won two titles in the space of 27 minutes. The 100 fly was first up and she dominated for victory in 57.10, just 0.05 from her Belgian record of 57.05 from the Swim Open Stockholm in April. Georgia Damasioti of Greece was second (58.06) with Great Britain’s Lucy Grieve third (58.71).
Vanotterdijk returned for the 50 back which she won in 28.05 ahead of Adela Piskorska (28.23) and Zoe Carlos-Broc (28.35).
Nikolett Padar and Minna Abraham were in a Hungarian dead heat as they shared the women’s 200 free title.
Padar led throughout and was 0.49 ahead of her teammate at the final turn. Abraham – silver medallist at the 2024 Europeans – came back with a 29.59 last 50 as she drew alongside Padar as the pair couldn’t be separated in 1:56.03. Justina Kozan took bronze in 1:58.26.
Siskos Takes Title; National Records In The Pool
Apostolos Siskos led throughout to win the men’s 200 back in 1:55.84. The Greek has had a fine 2025 and stands second in the rankings with the national record of 1:54.66 at the national championships in May. Oleksandr Zheltyakov of Ukraine – who won gold ahead of Siskos at last year’s European Championships – was second in 1:57.34 with Great Britain’s Cameron Brooker coming from fourth at halfway for third in 1:58.45.
Denis Popescu won the 100 fly title in 51.48, 0.01 inside the Romanian record he set in prelims. Diogo Ribeiro – the 2024 world champion – was next home in 51.73.
Luka Mladenovic enjoyed a comprehensive victory in the men’s 50m breaststroke with an Austrian record of 26.72. That cut a 0.22 chunk from Bernhard Reitshammar’s mark of 26.94 from the 2022 worlds. Volodymyr Lisovets (27.29) and Dawid Wiekiera (27.58) followed him home.
Poland won the mixed medley relay as they held off the challenge of Evie Davis on the anchor leg for Great Britain, winning by 0.02 in 3:48.25 to 3:48.27 with Greece third in 3:48.54.
Ellie McCartney executed a strong second half of the race to take the 200IM in 2:12.50, Maya Werner headed the fastest heat of the 800 free in 8:29.33 and Eneli Jefimova claimed the first title of the meet in the 50m breaststroke (30.03).