2022 FINA WORLD AQUATICS CHAMPIONSHIPS
- June 18-25, 2022 (pool swimming)
- Budapest, Hungary
- Duna Arena
- LCM (50-meter format)
- Full Aquatics Schedule
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- Psych Sheets
- Meet Central
- Live Results
- Day 3 Finals Heat Sheets
David Popovici soared to victory in the men’s 200 freestyle, clocking a 1:43.21 to smash his own previous record of 1:44.40 from the semi-finals round of this meet. Popovici is now the 4th-fastest man in history behind Paul Biedermann, Michael Phelps, and Yannick Agnel, and has swum the 5th-fastest time in history.
With this swim, Popovici is one of 5 swimmers in history to crack the 1:44 barrier and is now the youngest man to do so. The former youngest man to pull off the sub-1:44 feat was Danila Izotov who did it at age 17 at the 2009 World Championships.
But Izotov did it when he was 17 years, 9 months, and 26 days old, while Popovici is currently 17 years, 9 months, and 5 days old, making him 21 days younger than Izotov.
All-Time 200 Freestyle Performers
- Paul Biedermann (GER) – 1:42.00 (2009)
- Michael Phelps (USA) – 1:42.96 (2008)
- Yannick Agnel (FRA) – 1:43.14 (2012)
- David Popovici (ROU) – 1:43.21 (2022)
- Danila Izotov (RUS) – 1:43.90
All-Time 200 Freestyle Performances
- Paul Biedermann (GER) – 1:42.00 (2009)
- Paul Biedermann (GER) – 1:42.81 (2009)
- Michael Phelps (USA) – 1:42.96 (2008)
- Yannick Agnel (FRA) – 1:43.14 (2012)
- David Popovici (ROU) – 1:43.21 (2022)
Additionally, this makes Popovici the second-fastest 200 freestyler in a textile suit as both of Biedermann’s swims and Phelps’ swim occurred in the super-suit era.
Split Comparisons
| POPOVICI – 2022 WORLDS GOLD | POPOVICI – 2022 WORLDS SEMI | HWANG – 2020 OLYMPIC HEATS | POPOVICI – 2020 OLYMPIC FINAL | |
| 50 | 23.77 | 23.93 | 24.08 | 24.23 |
| 100 | 26.19 | 26.31 | 26.04 | 26.50 |
| 150 | 26.31 | 27.01 | 26.89 | 27.24 |
| 200 | 26.95 | 27.15 | 27.61 | 26.71 |
| 1:43.21 | 1:44.40 | 1:44.62 | 1:44.68 |
In addition to being the youngest man to swim a 1:43, Popovici is now the youngest World Champion in the men’s 200 freestyle and one of the youngest male world champions in swimming history.
Prior to this, USA swimmer Tim Shaw was the youngest man to top the podium in this event at a World Championships. He won this event in 1975 at the Cali World Championships. At that meet Shaw was just over 18 years of age, making Popovici the only 17-year-old to win the event at this meet.
In terms of youngest world champions across all events, Popovici sits just outside of the top 10 with this swim. The 10th-youngest male world champion is Ricardo Prado of Brazil who won the 400 IM in 1982 at the age of 17 years and 211 days. Popovici is presently 17 years and 278 days.
Youngest Male World Champions In History
| Ian Thorpe | AUS | 1998 World Championships | 400 Freestyle | 15 years, 64 days |
| Steve Holland | AUS | 1973 World Championships | 1500 Freestyle | 15 years, 100 days |
| Michael Phelps | USA | 2001 World Championships | 200 Butterfly | 16 years, 24 days |
| Jesse Vassallo | USA | 1978 World Championships | 400 IM | 17 years, 13 days |
| Rick Demont | USA | 1973 World Championships | 400 Freestyle | 17 years, 138 days |
| Andy Coan | USA | 1975 World Championships | 100 Freestyle | 17 years, 145 days |
| Jósef Szabo | HUN | 1986 World Championships | 200 Breaststroke | 17 years, 164 days |
| Tae-Hwan Park | KOR | 2007 World Championships | 400 Freestyle | 17 years, 179 days |
| András Hargitay | HUN | 1973 World Championships | 400 IM | 17 years, 182 days |
| Ricardo Prado | BRA | 1982 World Championships | 400 IM | 17 years, 211 days |
To cap off the list of feats that Popovici has claimed with this swim, he is now the first-ever Romanian man to win a World Championships title. The only other man from the nation to have ever landed on the podium at this meet is Dragos Coman who earned bronze in the 400 freestyle at the 2003 Championships in Barcelona.
I just did the math and Popovici became the youngest under 1:44 by about 21 days.
Remember that Thorpe and Agnel recommended that 200 freestylers should take it out more.
That’s exactly what Popovici and Dean did, flipping in 49 point to the feet. Apart from Aubock, Martens and Winnington, who all come from heavy distance backgrounds, the other finalists flipped well under 51 too.
Apparently Thorpe and Agnel do know a thing or two about swimming fast 200 freestyles lol (even if ironically both were strong back half swimmers, closing in 25 point for their best times).
It will always irk me that 1:42.00 is the WR, not 1:42.96, or 1:43.14.
The birth of greatness. Popovici!!!!!!
When he went 47.3 he was 1:45 in the same meet. Now he is 1:43.2. Should we say he’s the favorite in the 100? Is that record safe?
I remember David mentioning that while he was still 16 and wanted to become the fastest 16 year old in history, he wanted to kill 2 birds with one stone. So what does he do instead, he one ups that by killing an entire flock of birds with a bolder last year, and if we’re comparing that to now, i’d say he’s using an asteroid to put an entire world to extinction I’d say is a good analogy.
Too soon for asteroid jokes, sir.
Where is he going to choose as his American University?
It is funny to see various prominent coaches (Bowman, Holloway, for example) liking all his IG posts,
Not sure he wants to go there.
Why putt off the financial opportunities he could have to swim in 25 yard meets?
Chlorinedaddy hype train has now departed to the next station: GREATNESS
choo…choo..!
Sorry for those who are left behind. I gave notice yesterday.
The kind of I told you so,