2023 ROMANIAN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
- Wednesday, April 5th – Sunday, April 9th
- Otopeni, Romania
- LCM (50m)
- Meet Site
- Start List
- Day 1 Recap
- Day 2 Prelims Results (PDF)
- Day 2 Finals Results (PDF)
David Popovici continued to excel in the expanded event lineup he’s taking on this week at the Romanian Championships, following up a two-win effort on Wednesday by resetting the National Record twice in the men’s 50 butterfly on Thursday.
Entering the championships with a personal best time of 24.38 from December 2020, Popovici became the first Romanian swimmer to break the 24-second barrier in the 50 fly prelims, clocking 23.96 to down the National Record of 24.02 set by Daniel Martin this past December.
The 18-year-old Popovici dropped more time in the final, getting down to 23.74 to knock more than a quarter-second off the Romanian Record over the course of the day. The swim falls just outside of the world’s top 25 this season (23.66 is 25th).
Also going under the previous record in the final was Denis Popescu, who clocked 23.95 to place second to Popovici. Popescu swam a best time of 24.06 in the prelims, while his PB entering the meet was 24.28 from this past December.
Speaking to Romanian media post-race, Popovici revealed he didn’t know he broke the national record until after the final, and also said he relishes the opportunity to expand his event range at the meet.
“I didn’t know, I didn’t watch it, now I find out for the first time,” he said of the record, according to Pro Sport. “I am really happy that I managed to set a national record in an event for which I had very little preparation.
“Participating in as many (meets) as possible helps me to experiment, expand, I’m still young and I don’t want to get stuck on one (meet). So I take advantage of competitions like this, where the stakes are not so high.”
On Day 1 of the competition, Popovici won the 50 free in a time of 22.62, and added a personal best en route to victory in the 100 back (54.74).
He has remaining entries in the 100 fly, 100 free and 400 free over the last three days of the meet.
Also setting a 50 fly record on the day was Daria Silisteanu, who logged a time of 27.36 in the women’s event to break the 14-and-under age group record she established in the prelims (27.78).
Silisteanu’s time was also under the age record for 15, 16, 17 and 18-and-unders in Romania, and nearly broke the senior National Record of 27.19 from 2013.
She finished first overall in the event, followed by 2007-born Eva Paraschiv (27.58) and 2009-born Denisa Bacalu (27.78).
Sillisteanu broke the 14 and 15-and-under records in the 100 back on Day 1.
OTHER DAY 2 HIGHLIGHTS
- 14-year-old Alecsia Maria Tenciu posted a time of 2:34.60 in the women’s 200 breaststroke, nearing the age group record of 2:34.43 while placing second overall in the event behind Brigitta Vass (2:32.33). Vass, 16, owns a personal best time of 2:31.62.
- Mihnea Ionut Rosca, 17, topped the men’s 200 breaststroke in a time of 2:19.42, leading Daniel Nicusan (2:19.91).
- In the women’s 200 freestyle, Ana Maria Sibiseanu put up a time of 2:02.74 to lead the junior rankings and place second overall, as the 15-year-old established a new PB after going 2:04.03 in the prelims. The fastest swimmer overall was Maysa Ratiu in 2:01.31, dropping six one-hundredths off her previous best from December.
- The men’s 200 free was paced by Miha Gergely, who put up a time of 1:51.72 to hold off 16-year-old Robert Badea (1:52.07). Gergely set a best time of 1:51.05 in December.
That 100 fly fixin to be finger-lickin good
David in heavy training now? These are untapered times?
It would appear so. He is obviously having a great time (smiling, laughing) and his 400FR was beautiful to watch. I don’t think times are what he’s after in a few of these events. I doubt he would swim them at worlds even if he made the A cut. I think worlds will be all about defending his two events.
What time did he go in the 400?
3:51.18
Chlorine Daddy continues to amaze!
Popovicitis might spread if he has a break out swim in the 1fly at worlds.
It will be interesting to see if Dressel is already vaccinated against Popovicitis
Even Michael Andrew is a second faster than Chlorine Kid.
For now….;-)
It’s too early to have a female-Popovici case, but 100 back 1.01.4 + 50 fly 27.3 at 14 is a notable and intriguing double.
Crazy to think that Popovici, a mid-distance freestyler by nature, just swam .47 off Josh Liendo’s new 50FL PB.
He has the 100 free world record. I’d say he is a sprinter.
Absolutely not. Look at his 50FR by comparison. Furthermore, look at his back half compared to his front half in the 100. Finally, look at his 200FR time.
Yes – he is a sprinter with endurance. he is not just a 50 guy who cannot swim anything but. For me, he needs 400m to be called a mid-distance swimmer. 100-200 are still sprint races, but I guess it depends on how you define sprint.
The 100 Free will be permanently closed for business if he gets to 21-mid 50 Free speed…
Welp there’s goes my expectations of what I thought he will go in his butterfly he’s already faster than I thought. The 100 fly record is 52.35. Me thinks he’s about to destroy it.
Easily under 52. Schooling went out 23.6 when he won the rio olympics with a 50.4. I would say Popovici’s 50 fly probably translates to a 51 mid. Something like going out in 24.7 and combing back just under 27.
Uh oh