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Budapest Gold Medalist David Popovici Entered In European Junior Championships

2022 EUROPEAN JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS

  • Tuesday, July 5th – Sunday, July 10th
  • Otopeni Olympic Swimming Complex, Bucharest, Romania
  • LCM (50m)
  • Meet Central
  • Entries

The 2022 European Junior Championships are nearly upon us, slated to begin on Tuesday, July 5th, and span through Sunday, July 10th in Romania.

The swimming competition is taking place at the newly-constructed Otopeni Olympic Swimming Complex, located about 15 kilometers (~9 miles) outside the Bucharest city center. The facility boasts an impressive 6 pools, including a competition pool, diving pool and a 25-meter training pool. The competition pool has seating capacity for up to 3,000 spectators.

Over 480 athletes representing 41 nations are set to compete this week, with the entry lists giving us a glimpse into the big-time names ready to make their marks at the annual elite competition.

Among them is newly-minted world champion David Popovici of the host nation. 17-year-old Popovici was a two-time Olympic finalist who went on to top the podium in both the 100m and 200m free events at this year’s World Championships, clocking a new World Junior Record in the latter.

Popovici will be taking on the trio of freestyle sprint events here in Budapest, coming in as the top seed across all 3.

He’ll be chased by another 17-year-old Jacob Whittle, the 2020 Olympian from Great Britain who also just competed in Budapest. Whittle will be racing the 50m, 100m and 200m freestyle events here as well as the 2nd seed in each.

Look for separate posts on the top men and women to watch, but key athletes include Merve Tuncel (TUR), Lorenzo Galossi (ITA), Roos Vanotterdijk (BEL), Ksawery Maskiuk (POL), Eneli Jefimova (EST), Krzysztof Chimielewski (POL), Liam Custer (IRL), Lana Pudar (BIH), Justine Delmas (FRA), Sacha Velly (FRA).

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PFA
2 years ago

If Popovici breaks 1:43 then he’ll still be younger than Izotov was when he went under 1:44 by I believe a few days.

NCAA>ISL
2 years ago

Is Franko Grgic eligible/going? He’d be a name to watch based on his 2019 performance

Human Ambition
Reply to  NCAA>ISL
2 years ago

A Hrvatski source said he is not doing much right now. Hope I heard wrong.

Luigi
2 years ago

I recommend you watch Lorenzo Galossi closely, he could do something special here

Chlorinetherapy
2 years ago

Great interview by Brett Hawke on his YouTube channel.

Troyy
Reply to  Chlorinetherapy
2 years ago

I somehow managed to miss this being posted. Thanks for the heads up.

Sir Swimsalot
2 years ago

Everyone: “Why do I hear boss music?”

DCSwim
2 years ago

He should’ve entered in the 50 and 400 to give the others a fighting chance

Troyy
Reply to  DCSwim
2 years ago

He’s in the 50.

AnEn
2 years ago

Biggest names (in my opinion) competing:
Men: Popovici, Whittle, Galossi, Chmielewski, Velly, Masiuk
Women: Jefimova, Pudar, Tuncel, Moluh, Padar, Molnar

Italy and Hungary look very strong (as usual). They should use the absence of Russia to maybe get their best result ever. Too bad that Pilato won‘t compete …

Luigi
2 years ago

Question: is Popovici the youngest 100 and 200 free world champion in history?

Emily Se-Bom Lee
Reply to  Luigi
2 years ago

only andy coan (17y 4m) and tim shaw (2-3 weeks younger than popovici) are younger. both were champions from 1975. the 3rd youngest in both events is jim montgomery in 1973 (18y 7m)

Luigi
Reply to  Emily Se-Bom Lee
2 years ago

thanks, but my question was specifically about winners of both events and I believe only Montgomery qualifies in your list

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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, …

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