David Popovici Still Hates Short Course Despite WJR In 100 Free (Day 2 Flash Quotes)

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David Popovici found some success in the semi-finals of the men’s 100 freestyle on Wednesday at the Short Course World Championships, but he still hasn’t warmed up to the format.

The 18-year-old Romanian set a new World Junior Record in a time of 45.91, qualifying him fifth into the final, a result he wasn’t necessarily expecting.

“I didn’t think I would be breaking any more junior records this year but it looks like a did, so it was a pleasant surprise,” Popovici told World Aquatics. “I didn’t think I would be swimming this fast, but sometimes I can doubt myself.

“I think that I am my biggest critic.”

The reigning world champion in the men’s 100 and 200 free in long course, Popovici said it’s a continuous learning process for him in the SCM pool.

“I am still learning and I am going to learn some more during the final,” he said. “I swam well, but against my will because I still hate short course.

“I have to adapt but it’s looking good. I am currently learning and I just came from the lesson.

“Tomorrow for the final, once more, I am going to class again.”

Popovici enters the final as one of five swimmers who broke 46 seconds in the semi-finals, with Cayman Islands native Jordan Crooks (45.55) leading the field, world record holder Kyle Chalmers (45.66) sitting third and defending champion Alessandro Miressi (45.74) in fourth.

Frenchman Maxime Grousset, the runner-up to Popovici at the LC World Championships in the 100 free, advances second overall in 45.58.

OTHER DAY 2 FLASH QUOTES

U.S. Team Predicted World Record Would Come In Mixed Relay

The American team rolled to a dominant performance in the mixed 200 medley relay, smashing the world record by more than a second in 1:35.15.

The swimmers spoke about how the world record was in their sights pre-race and they were confident it was going to go down.

“We discussed breaking the world record earlier today,” said breaststroker Nic Fink, who produced one of the fastest splits of all-time in 24.96. “It was definitely mentioned but with all of the different combinations so no one was really sure who would be on the relay. Once the relay lineup was set, we knew what we had to do.”

Kate Douglass also had a historically fast fly leg, splitting 24.09 to near the fastest ever for a woman of 23.96.

“I prefer not to think about it (aiming for a world record) because it puts a little bit of pressure on,” said Douglass. “But after this morning’s swim, we thought we had a pretty good chance of getting that world record.

“We had a team meeting before we came to the pool and we all said, ‘We are going to get it!’ It’s such a great feeling to want something like that and to be able to go out and get it.”

Ryan Murphy led the team off with a personal best of 22.37 for the 50 back (though unofficial), and followed up by winning the men’s 100 back in a Championship Record time of 48.50.

“It felt really good,” said Murphy of his double. “It’s been an incredible hour for me. A world record in the relay, I think we went half a second faster than we thought we were going to go.

“Of course, I was getting ready for my 100 back and realized I needed to use the bathroom. I actually went into drug testing and got that out of the way. I was out just time for the victory ceremony for the relay.”

Anchor swimmer Torri Huske carried the relay momentum over into the individual 50 fly, where she tied Canadian Maggie MacNeil for the gold medal.

“I was really excited to be on the mixed medley,” said Huske. “It was easier to keep the momentum going because the guys gave me a tremendous lead and I didn’t want to let the team down.

“Starting this way gave all of us a positive attitude about our races tonight.

“I had a lot of adrenaline going into that race (50m fly). I was so thankful that it was the 50 fly and not a 100 fly. “It’s really cool to tie with maggie in my first individual world title.”

Nicholas Santos Retires On A High

42-year-old Brazilian Nicholas Santos finished off his illustrious career with a gold medal victory in the men’s 50 fly, breaking his own record as the swimming’s oldest world champion ever.

“It’s the last race of my career,” he said. “I am getting old and leaving this to the young guys.”

“I was trying to break the world record, my own record. I was close, but it’s not easy. I have tried a few times.”

Santos finished in a time of 21.78, just shy of the all-time mark of 21.75 which he shares with Hungarian Szebasztian Szabo.

“I leave swimming at 42 years of age and I am really happy and proud,” Santos added. “I have traveled to more than 40 countries but tonight was the last event of my career and I want to say a big thank you to World Aquatics.

“I tried to inspire people, including many young kids who have watched me swim.”

Noe Ponti Surprises Himself With Speed

The runner-up to Santos in the 50 fly was Swiss native Noe Ponti, who set a new National Record and broke 22 seconds for the first time.

The 21-year-old has typcially been more suited to the longer fly events and surprised himself with his performance.

“I didn’t expect to swim this fast in the 50 fly,” he said. “Usually I swim 100m & 200m in short course, so wow, couldn’t have started better than that.

“It’s pretty surprising, because I never train for the 50s, but I went fast in the 50, so I guess if I’m in shape it comes pretty naturally. I’m super happy, and hopefully, the next races will be as good as this one.”

Lani Pallister Finding Newfound Confidence

After winning gold on the opening night in the women’s 400 free, Lani Pallister doubled up on Wednesday, securing a second individual title in the 800 free before anchoring the Aussie women to gold and a new world record in the 4×200 free relay.

Pallister attributed her performances to a more relaxed approach this week, but still noted she blew her expectations out of the water.

“I think today I was really relaxed,” the 20-year-old said. “I didn’t expect to be swimming the times that I did.

“I relaxed a little bit more because I knew the work that I had done has paid off. I was able to trust my abilities. Having that confidence, more than anything, going into the 4 x 200.

“Swimming is a mind game more than it is a physical one.”

Pallister says her swim in the relay final was a first for her on the international stage, previously always serving as a prelim member.

“That was my first-ever 4×200 final,” she said. “I was a heats swimmer at the beginning of the year.

“The Australian coaches called me up tonight and trusted me with a ‘dirty double’ of the 800m free and the relay. I wanted to put my best foot forward. I was able to show that I was a versatile swimmer.”

Pallister had the third-fastest flying split in the entire field, 1:52.24, as Australia broke the world record by nearly two seconds in 7:30.87.

“I definitely looked at that record coming into this meet and we thought it was going to be something that was achievable,” she said. “Without my teammates, this would not have been possible.”

Erika Fairweather, the runner-up to Pallister in the 800 free, spoke on how once the opportunity to go for a medal presented itself, she had to take a chance and go all-in.

“It’s so exciting,” said Fairweather. “I mean, I haven’t really been swimming the 800 for that long so it’s super cool that I was able to pull it out of the bag.”

The women’s distance freestyle events have been blown wide open after Italian Simona Quadarella withdrew from the competition and heavy favorite Li Bingjie tested positive for COVID-19.

“There was a doorway open and you know, you just got to take your chances and we’ve managed to score so that was pretty effective,” Fairweather added.