You are working on Staging2

David Popovici After 46.88 100 Freestyle, “This Period of Time Hasn’t Been Really a Taper One”

2024 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS

MEN’S 100 FREESTYLE – FINAL

  1. David Popovici, Romania, 46.88
  2. Nandor Nemeth, Hungary, 47.49
  3. Andrej Barna, Serbia, 47.66

Former World Record holder in the event David Popovici just missed claiming his record back as he swam to a 46.88 in the men’s 100 freestyle to capture the European Title on Wednesday night. Popovici’s swim marked the #3 performance in history and he spoke on being un-tapered right now.

Two years ago at the European Championships, Popovici set the World Record in a 46.86. He held the record until China’s Pan Zhanle broke that record at the 2024 World Championships this February in Doha.

A few weeks ago, Popovici told SwimSwam’s Coleman Hodges at the Mare Nostrum series that having his World Record broken was “refreshing.” Popovici continued to describe it as refreshing here in Serbia.

“I’ve got really close [to the World Record]. I wouldn’t say that was really the main objective. The objective was just trying to swim as good as I could,” Popovici said. “And looks like I should have a little bit more confidence in myself, I guess, because I’ve gotten really close without really planning for it. So yeah, it’s still refreshing.”

Back at the Mare Nostrum stop, Popovici also said “I didn’t think I’d go this fast” as he swam a 1:44.74 in the 200 freestyle. He also swam a 48.49 in the 100 free.

His swim here in Serbia was much faster than his swim in Barcelona as it was the #3 fastest all-time behind only Pan’s World Record and Popovici’s former World Record.

Popovici now holds the #2 time in the World this season and has about five weeks until competition in Paris next month at the 2024 Olympic Games.

Popovici knows what he plans to work on between now and Paris.

Just try and taper as good as I can keep training. This period of time hasn’t been really a taper one. It hasn’t been easy in terms of training. So that makes me even more happy with the time I just went.”

In This Story

19
Leave a Reply

Subscribe
Notify of

19 Comments
newest
oldest most voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Swammer Chat
4 months ago

Men’s 200Fr and 400IM would be the easiest events to predict the winners.
Conversely, the most difficult events would be 100Bk, 200Bk and 100Fly.

ZThomas
4 months ago

“Normally tapered” is the most dishonest thing to come out of a swimmers mouth.

Sapiens Ursus
4 months ago

Ah, so this is what Rowdy was talking aboit the other day

Fraser Thorpe
4 months ago

This is the injection of excitement men’s swimming badly needed.

On a not entirely unrelated note, I would be happy with King Kyle getting a 46.xx in Paris, no matter where he finishes. It’s the last thing his CV is missing that I think his career deserves.

Genevieve Nnaji
4 months ago

This swimmer is so mature and smart.

All aboard on ChlorineDaddy hype train..choo.. choo…. 🚄

Next destination: 🇫🇷

Dan
4 months ago

You don’t need a taper when God is on your side

Genevieve Nnaji
Reply to  Dan
4 months ago

What does it say about Michael Andrew?

Is God not on his side?

As far as I know he’s extremely religious.

Emojilo
Reply to  Genevieve Nnaji
4 months ago

naw, he’s Protestant

EXCALIBUR
Reply to  Emojilo
4 months ago

but religious nontheless

JJ jfhfjg
Reply to  Genevieve Nnaji
4 months ago

God is not on your side when u train for the 25 meter free. Popovici is a sub 3:48 400 swimmer

Mr Piano
Reply to  Dan
4 months ago

You don’t need god on your side when you are the god.

Everybody
Reply to  Mr Piano
4 months ago

You don’t need god on your side when you’re the side

EXCALIBUR
Reply to  Mr Piano
4 months ago

you don’t need God when its in your talent & ground work

FST
Reply to  Dan
4 months ago

Why do people always need to get their imaginary friends invovled?

FST
4 months ago

It’s truly amazing what the human body is capable of… Or at least his human body 😃

Stallion06
4 months ago

The dude weighs 95 pounds. 3 days of prep and he’s tapered

John
Reply to  Stallion06
4 months ago

Lol

About Braden Keith

Braden Keith

Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com. He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming. Aside from his life on the InterWet, …

Read More »