2022 FINA SHORT COURSE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
- Tuesday, December 13 to Sunday, December 18, 2022
- Melbourne Sports and Aquatics Centre, Melbourne, Australia
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Despite being arguably the top swimmer of 2022, David Popovici came into last week’s Short Course World Championships doubting himself.
Coming off a breakout year that included winning long course world titles in the men’s 100 and 200 free, breaking the world record in the former, the Romanian sensation didn’t believe he had what it took to succeed in the short course pool.
“I know most of the time I look or appear very confident, but coming into the Short Course World Championship I doubted myself and my abilities,” Popovici wrote on Instagram Tuesday.
“Before I started, I was just trying to be realistic in terms of what I could achieve, knowing I don’t like racing short course and also that I’m not so good at it.”
However, the 18-year-old found success in Melbourne, setting a new World Junior Record in the men’s 100 freestyle, placing fourth in a time of 45.64, and then went on to claim a silver medal in the 200 free in a time of 1:40.79. Both swims were also new Romanian Records.
South Korean Hwang Sunwoo, one year older than Popovici at 19, won the 200 free in 1:39.72, marking the first swim under 1:40 in a decade.
“However, once I started, I realized that I am way stronger than I imagined and that it was all in my head,” Popovici continued.
“In the end, I managed to snatch one last World Junior Record in the 100m free and the Silver medal in the 200m free, proving once again to myself that doubt and insecurities can make you stronger.
“Thank you everybody for this amazing year, this was the perfect way of ending it. :)”
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Overall, Popovici concludes the year as the long course world champion, European champion, World Junior champion and European Junior champion in the 100 and 200 freestyle, as well as the Euro Junior champ in the 50 free, and he finishes it off with a silver medal performance at SC Worlds in the 200 free.
In addition to breaking the super-suited world record in the long course 100 free (46.86), he also became the first swimmer in history to break 1:43 in the 200 free in a textile suit (1:42.97).
He ended up with good swims in both the 100 and 200, still not sure what happened with his 400. As arguably the swimmer of the year, he seemed to me an afterthought at this meet, leaving with 1 silver, while other athletes were hauling away 5, 6, 7 medals. Hopefully Romania can put together some relays so we can see him in some more events in the future.
Ridiculous. There are two versions, not 10. The walls come sooner and are more important. Wow, how does anyone cope with that? These short course haters act like they are being asked to execute an underwater decathlon. Major kudos every year to the swimmers who prioritize both distances and don’t whine about either.
I can’t imagine David Popovici “whining” about anything. Remember LCM pools are more the norm in Europe and it’s what he grew up swimming in Romania. He loves racing and speed and he’s good at it. This was a transition for him and he was anxious but he went home with a silver medal. His coach has the long game in mind meaning faster turns and better underwaters. Not to become a SCM star but a LCM super star but hey that’s just my opinion I don’t really know anything. 🙂
You’re welcome Mr. Popovici. Hoping to see a lot more of you in the future!
Likely the greatest freestyle talent in the history of the sport after Thorpe
I would argue the 3rd greatest male jr in history behind Thorpe and Phelps
Definitely, I didn’t mention Phelps cause his freestyle as a junior wasn’t nearly at that level, but overall yea, I’d still have thorpe at 1 though, if we’re only talking about precocity and junior career
I’m a massive Thorpe fan, I think he was the greatest freestyler in history, for men anyway, and I think Popovici is certainly on his level. 46.8 and 1:43.2 as a 17 year old is outrageous.
1.42.97 actually, and yes at 17 they’re roughly on par, Thorpe takes the win because of precocity, he was within a second or so from the 400 WR (which was one of the best WRs at the time imo, a 3.43 in the 90s, a time that can still give you a shot at a medal 25 years later is simply insane) and world champion at 15
The 100m LC is the blue ribbon event of freestyle. A 100m WR at 17 is just insane. Thorpe was a middle distance swimmer with the 400 his pet event, followed by the 200 and 800. A teenage distance prodigy is somewhat more expected. A teenage prodigy and WR in the 100m is just totally unexpected, and a sub 1:43 200m, a textile WR, something Thorpe could never do even with his bodysuits, is equally impressive.
Pieter Van Den Hoogenband was a top tier talent as well. 0.05 seconds from sweeping the 50, 100, and 200 at a single olympic games, first man to go 47, first man to split 46… the Popovici before there was Popovici
I love Van Den Hoogenband, him Vs Thorpe is one of the highlights of my childhood.
But he really didn’t reach the top till he was about 20, which is relatively late for a swimmer, I’d have several other guys between Thorpe/Popovici and him talent wise as freestylers, since when talking about talent I really value precocity more than how the entire career turned out, else Popovici wouldn’t even be in this convo yet.
Plus, even looking at his entire career, never winning an individual gold at worlds is a big stain, guys like Hackett, Popov, Salnikov, Paltrinieri are above him, he’s more in that Matt Biondi, Perkins tier
I agree re David being most precocious freestyle talent since Phelps. And if he stays on this trajectory likely the 1st or 2nd best freestyler ever. Thorpe being the current GOAT.
What I’m also interested in is Thorpe vs Ledecky. Her resume outstrips his due to longevity – but pound for pound at their peak periods – who gets it?
He’s the 400 swimmer who can win and set a WR at 800 and also medal at the olympics in the 100.
She’s an 800 swimmer who monsters the 1500, and sets new benchmarks in the 400 and also won the 200.
I think Ledecky takes it, but if Thorpe had done a 1500 he’d have the slightest edge… Read more »
Like you said, her longevity is so overwhelming that crushes any kind of argument in Thorpe’s favor.
If we’re just talking about peaks it’s much closer, personally, while I don’t really have a strong opinion in a 2001 Thorpe Vs 2016 Ledecky debate, I might lean towards her as well, but I think it’s kinda skewed by the lack of competition she’s faced in her career in her 2 best races.
It needs to be mentioned that the 800-1500 on the female side, aside from ledecky are almost stagnant since the 90s in terms of the field overall level, and while her times would be monstrous even if the competition was better, I still can’t help but think it increases… Read more »
You should have been more forceful. Other than Ledecky, female distance swimming is a joke. It looks like bloomers tennis. I’m convinced Ledecky could keep going through 2032, if she wants to, given the pathetic caliber of the 800 and 1500.
What criteria are you using other than misogyny?
Does he have the junior world record in the SCM 200 free?
No he missed sates record by .14
Generational talent
Despite Popovici having his doubts about SCM even when he was saying he came in with less confidence, I think he had a great meet regardless and even himself saying it went better than he thought it would go shows he is a solid SCM swimmer.
This kind of self doubt is characteristic of the most obsessive, dedicated athletes (and massively successful people of all stripes). Reminds me of Dressel—nothing will ever be quite good enough.