David Popovici Wins Third Romanian Championship Title in 100m Freestyle Romanian swimming star David Popovici added another national title to his growing collection by winning the 100-meter freestyle at the Romanian Championships in Otopeni on April 25, 2026. The 21-year-old Olympic champion completed the race in 47.52 seconds, securing his third gold medal of the competition after previously winning the 50m and 200m freestyle events. Popovici dominated the race from start to finish, leading throughout after an opening split of 22.92 seconds for the first 50 meters. His performance continued a strong showing at the national championships, where he had already established himself as the top performer across multiple freestyle distances. Following Popovici to the wall was Princeton University standout Patrick Dinu, who finished second with a career-best time of 48.01 seconds. Dinu matched Popovici’s pace through the first 50 meters with a split of 23.09 seconds before falling slightly behind on the return leg, where he recorded a 24.92 split. The result marked a significant personal achievement for Dinu, who earned qualification for the upcoming European Championships in Paris with his performance. The Romanian Championships in Otopeni served as a key preparatory event for the European Championships, with Popovici expressing confidence in his form ahead of the international competition. Having previously set a world record in the 100m freestyle at the 2022 European Championships with a time of 46.86 seconds, Popovici remains one of the top contenders in the event. The competition highlighted the depth of talent in Romanian swimming, with multiple athletes achieving personal bests and securing spots for upcoming international meets. Popovici’s victory in the 100m freestyle completed a sweep of the sprint freestyle events at the national championships, reinforcing his status as Romania’s leading swimmer heading into the summer competitive season.
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