Romania’s David Popovici secures gold medal in 200m freestyle event in Otopeni
<p>Romanian star swimmer David Popovici won the gold medal on Thursday, April 10, in the 200m freestyle event at the National Swimming Championships in Otopeni.</p>
<p>Popovici won with a time of 1:45.07, more than 5 seconds ahead of Eric Ștefan Andrieș. Third place was taken by Robert Andrei Badea (1:50.85).&nbsp;</p>
<p>The race was David’s first 200m event since the <a href="https://www.romania-insider.com/david-popovici-gold-paris-olympics-july-2024">Olympic Games in Paris</a>, where he finished with a time of 1:44.72 to win the gold medal.</p>
<p>“It’s a very good time. It’s very close to the time I had at the Olympic Games. I had no expectations regarding time, but I swam as fast as I could today. And it was pretty fast,” said Popovici, cited by <a href="https://www.gsp.ro/sporturi/altele/david-popovici-dupa-ce-a-realizat-cel-mai-bun-timp-din-acest-an-la-200-m-liber-aproape-ca-la-jocurile-olimpice-793615.html">GSP.ro</a>.</p>
<p>The medal comes just one day after David Popovici won the 50m freestyle event with a time of 21.83 seconds.&nbsp;</p>
<p>“What I achieved yesterday made me even happier, because I really wanted this, to be the first in history to go under 22 seconds in the 50m event, under 47 in the 100, and under 1:43.00 in the 200. And this achievement makes me very happy,” the swimmer said.</p>
<p><em><a href="mailto:radu@romania-insider.com">radu@romania-insider.com</a></em></p>
<p><em>(Photo source: Inquam Photos | Colette Rochefort)</em></p>