Sette Colli International, Day Two Finals: David Popovici Notches Fastest Time in World in 100 Freestyle
Some of the biggest names in the sport headlined action on the second night of finals at the 62nd edition of the Sette Colli International Trophy in Rome. Held at the well-known Foro Italico in the Italian capital, the likes of Gretchen Walsh, Siobhan Haughey and David Popovici were scheduled to race in a meet that is serving as preparation for major competitions later this summer, notably the European Championships and Pan Pacific Championships.
During the first session of finals, Walsh established an American record of 24.51 in the 50-meter butterfly, a swim that ranks No. 2 in history. Meanwhile, Hungarian Kristof Milak ripped a time of 50.47 en route to victory in the 100 butterfly, while Brazil’s Gui Caribed clocked 21.46 for the title in the 50 freestyle.
Walsh opened the session with the fifth-fastest time in history in the 100 fly, going 54.82 for a convincing triumph. Walsh is the only woman to ever break the 55-second barrier in the event.
Here is a look at what else unfolded on Night Two in Rome:
David Popovici Sends Message in 100 Freestyle
Romanian star David Popovici put together his latest sensational performance in Rome when he established a meet record of 47.26 for a convincing triumph in the 100 freestyle. The reigning world champion in the event, Popovici led three athletes under the 48-second barrier, but it was the 21-year-old who went well under and comfortably defeated Brazil’s Gui Caribe (47.88) and Hungary’s Kristof Milak (47.89).
Some of Popovici’s best career efforts have been delivered at the Foro Italico, incuding a world record and European titles. His showing on Saturday is proof that his training is progressing nicely on the road to this summer’s European Championships, which will be held in Paris in August. Out in 22.83, Popovici came home in 24.43 to move to No. 1 in this year’s world rankings.
After winning last year’s world title in the 100 freestyle in 46.51 and based on his 47-low marker in Rome, Popovici is in position to threaten the world record of 46.40, set at the 2024 Olympic Games by China’s Pan Zhanle. Popovici will close out his Sette Colli meet with the 200 freestyle on Sunday.
Croatia’s Jere Hribar (48.06) and Italian Carlos D’Ambrosio (48.18) finished fourth and fifth.
Alex Walsh Continues Family Surge
About 30 minutes after her younger sister blazed to victory in the 100 butterfly, Alex Walsh maintained her family’s roll by recording one of the top 400 individual medley performances of her career. Leading wire to wire, Walsh touched the wall in 4:35.25 to defeat Ireland’s Ellen Walshe (4:37.20) by nearly two seconds. Walsh’s career best sits at 4:34.46, from the 2023 World Championships in Fukuoka.
The American opened her decisive win by splitting 1:02.16 for the opening butterfly leg and she remained in front of the field for the remainder of the race. Walsh will have the option to contest the event at the Pan Pacific Championships, while Walshe will be in the event’s field at the European Champs. Third place went to Italian Anna Pirovano in 4:39.38.
In Other Action…
The reigning European champion in the 50 backstroke and 100 backstroke, Greece’s Apostolos Christou showed he’ll be a tough out when he defends his titles later this summer in Paris. Christou packaged a dominant win in the 100 back, clocking 52.47 for the only sub-53 effort in the field. Christou prevailed by more than a second, with runnerup honors belonging to Hungary’s Adam Jaszo in 53.70.
The home crowd was treated to a victory in the men’s 200 butterfly by Italy’s Federico Burdisso, who negotiated his four laps in 1:55.10. Burdisso surged to a one-plus-second lead by the midway point of the race, an advantage that allowed him to hold off a late charge by Hungarian Richard Marton, who finished second in 1:55.51. Switzerland’s Noe Ponti was third in 1:56.10.
Italian Martina Biasioli topped the field in the women’s 100 backstroke behind a swim of 1:00.77, while countryman Alberto Razzetti was quickest in the men’s 400 medley, going 4:13.37. The Italians also received a victory from Benedetta Pilato in the 50 breaststroke, where she went 30.00.
Russia’s Ivan Kozhakin won the men’s 100 breaststroke in 59.49.