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Watch How David Popovici Ripped 49.26 100 Free At 16 Years Of Age

2020 ROMANIAN NATIONAL SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS

  • September 30th – October 3rd
  • Bucharest, Romania
  • LCM (50m)
  • Results

Yesterday we reported on a phenomenal 100m freestyle performance by 16-year-old David Popovici of Romania. While competing at his national championships, the teen fired off a lifetime best mark of 49.26 in the men’s 1free on the final day of competition.

Splitting 23.78/25.48, his 49.26 would rank the Romanian faster than multi-Olympic medalist and multi-world champion Caeleb Dressel‘s 49.28 from his 15-16 age group days, a time that stands as the United States’ National Age Record for 15-16-yr-olds.

Additionally, Popovici inserts himself onto the list of Europe’s fastest 18 & U for the season in slot #2 behind Russia’s Andrei Minakov.

Top 
1. 48.78, Andrei Minakov (RUS)
2. 49.26, David Popovici (ROU) 
3. 49.27, Josif Miladinov (BUL)
4. 49.54, Matt Richards (GBR)
5. 49.57, Vladyslav Bukhov (UKR)

Note: Popovici’s birth date is 09/15/2004.

Popovici already made his mark on the international racing scene through his breakthrough performances at last year’s European Youth Olympic Festival. There in Baku Popovici beat out Great Britain’s teen sensation Jacob Whittle in the men’s 100m freestyle, posting a lifetime best of 49.82 as a 14-year-old.

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EliteSwim99
3 years ago

Joshua Liendo of Canada went a 49.17 justtttt after turning 17. Gonna be cool to see who becomes faster in the end!

Iain
4 years ago

Anyone know why he has a ‘University of Stirling’ hat on? Is he committed there?

@chlorinedaddy
Reply to  Iain
4 years ago

Hi, I’m David, the guy in the video :). I wear that cap because ever since I started swimming I’ve always worn what I feel is the most comfortable during a race. I got that cap as a gift from a friend who has studied there. I haven’t commited to any university yet, still searching for the right one, wherever in the world it might be. Hope that cleared it up!

Eisenhiem
Reply to  @chlorinedaddy
4 years ago

Sup David! You are a beast.

ACC fan
Reply to  @chlorinedaddy
4 years ago

Congratulations David! You would love NC STATE UNIVERSITY!

Marmot
Reply to  @chlorinedaddy
4 years ago

Ce faci, David? My wife is Romanian (from Bistrita) and we love following Romanian swimmers. Keep it up.

Eisenhiem
4 years ago

Filmed on my ’03 camcorder

Dawg
4 years ago

Wow, shallow pool too. Definitely faster in a deep water pool.

vendetta
Reply to  Dawg
4 years ago

i mean..the pool gets to around 2 metters in depth

Last edited 4 years ago by vendetta
Olympian
Reply to  Dawg
4 years ago

cap

vendetta
Reply to  Olympian
4 years ago

at the wall its not that deep but towards the middle it is 2m deep.

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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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