2024 PARIS SUMMER OLYMPIC GAMES
- Pool Swimming: July 27 – August 4, 2024
- Open Water Swimming: August 8 – 9, 2024
- La Défense Arena — Paris, France
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MEN’S 200-METER FREESTYLE – FINALS
- World Record: 1:42.00 – Paul Biedermann, GER (2009)
- World Junior Record: 1:42.97 – David Popovici, ROU (2022)
- Olympic Record: 1:42.96 – Michael Phelps, USA (2008)
- 2021 Winning Time: 1:44.22 – Tom Dean, GBR
- 2021 Bronze Medal Time: 1:44.66
- David Popovici (ROU) – 1:44.72
- Matt Richards (GBR) – 1:44.74
- Luke Hobson (USA) – 1:44.79
- Duncan Scott (GBR) – 1:44.87
- Lukas Martens (GER) – 1:45.46 (TIE)
- Danas Rapsys (LTU) – 1:45.46 (TIE)
- Macimillian Giuliani (AUS) – 1:45.57
- Katsuhiro Matsumoto (JPN) – 1:46.26
David Popovici of Romania became the first Romanian man to win gold in Olympic swimming on Monday night, capturing gold in the men’s 200 freestyle in a 1:44.72 in his win.
Popovici also became the first Romanian to win any medal since 2004 when Camelia Potec won gold in the women’s 200 freestyle and Razvan Florea won bronze in the men’s 200 backstroke.
The race was also revenge for the teenager after he just missed the podium at the 2020 Tokyo Games with a 4th place finish in a 1:44.68. That time was a National Record at the time.
Popovici’s best time stands at a 1:42.97 which he swam back in 2022. That time stands as the World Junior Record and made him the #3 performer in history. His season best stands at a 1:43.13 from last month at the European Championships.
All-Time 200 Freestyle Performers
- Paul Biedermann (GER) – 1:42.00 (2009)
- Michael Phelps (USA) – 1:42.96 (2008)
- David Popovici (ROU) – 1:42.97 (2022)
- Yannick Agnel (FRA) – 1:43.14 (2012)
- Danila Izotov (RUS) – 1:43.90 (2009)
It is not enough sometimes at the Olympics to be the fastest. To be the favorite can be a curse. Popovici has the heart of a true champion to fight for this gold to the touchpad.
Absolutely wild Hobson was able to swim a PB in this pool the way he did ngl the races themselves have been exciting but so far no one has swum an unbelievable time individually that is thus far.
Seems like free/breast and being massively affected by the pool and back hasn’t been as much but we have yet to see butterfly yet and so far it looks like a mix with that with how the IM’s went.
It looked like Popovici got sandwiched in Martens and Richards wake a bit. If he wasn’t so dominant in this event he wouldn’t have still won and actually he was lucky here too.
We are proud of you…CONGRATS!!
This article is full of inaccuracies. Please check your facts.
Wonderful to comment this but not specify what facts you believe are “wrong”
Because everything seems right
I think this race and the 100 breast from last night show how much times really DONT matter when it comes to a race being super enjoyable to watch.
In this race you had Martens going out and holding the lead for 150 before falling to 5th, Hobson flipping at 8th,7th, and 4th before getting bronze, and the medals all being decided by 7 hundredths in the last few meters.
This pool is so slow that Popovici swam the 200 faster in Tokyo than in Paris💀
To be fair, his time in the semis was faster than in Tokyo. But yes, it is a slow pool apparently b/c it’s too shallow.
What about Marchand? He was nearly at the WR for 400IM. Also Pan Zhanle dropped a 46.92 relay lead off. Close to his WR. Presumably these would have been WRs if the pool was faster.
Marchand being close to his WR doesn’t really mean anything, because we don’t know what he would’ve swum in another pool.
This time would not win since 2000.
Thorpe was one hundredth faster in 2004.
Insane.