World Championships: David Popovici Tips Luke Hobson in Another 200 Free Duel
The men’s 200 freestyle final was one of the races of the 2024 Paris Olympics, with .15 seconds blanketing the top four finishers. Tuesday’s final at the 2025 World Aquatics Championships only adds to the lore of a fascinating mid-distance group.
As he did in Paris, David Popovici rallied in the final 50, getting past Luke Hobson to win his second world championship.
Popovici went 1:43.53. He edged Hobson’s 1:43.84. Silver went to 18-year-old Tatsuya Murasa of Japan in 1:44.54.
“I think even better than the Olympics, to be honest,” Popovici said. “You know why? I trained a lot for the Olympics, but this coming (in) a year, a more relaxed year, more easy-going after the Olympics … I’m very proud of myself.”
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Hobson took the race out, splitting 50.07 on the first 100. The hope from the American was to build a lead that was Popovici-proof, after the Romania surged in the final 10 yards of the Olympic final to sneak his hand on the wall first.
Despite Hobson’s best efforts – and a time that was .11 off his personal best – Popovici did it again. His final 50 of 26.43 was the quickest in the field and the nearly a second quicker than Hobson’s 27.39.
“Obviously I always wanted to go for the win and I’ve been working towards it for a couple of years now, and I’ve just got to keep working towards it,” Hobson said. “Overall though, I was really happy with that swim. Great time. It’s great to have two people under 44 in the finals again, so hopefully many more great races to come.”
Murasa is part of a youth movement in this event, one of two 18-year-olds in the final. He was sixth at the halfway point and fifth in the turn for home but got to the podium .18 seconds ahead of Hwang Sun-Woo of South Korea. Hwang won the event in Doha in 2024 and had medaled in each of the last three Worlds.
“It’s amazing,” Murasa said. “I was aiming for it, but I honestly didn’t think I could actually get it. Having Popovici next to me helped a lot—those last moments were really tough, but I chased him down with everything I had, like my life depended on it. I think this is a medal I won through sheer grit.”
Polish record holder Kamil Sieradzki finished fifth in 1:45.22. Carlos D’Ambrosio, the 18-year-old Italian, went 1:45.27, .04 slower than the Italian record he set in semifinals. Britain’s James Guy finished seventh, with American Gabriel Jett eighth.
‘Pop’ is on a mission, next step the 100m Gold!