Dhaka: Romania’s David Popovici completed a world swimming sprint double on Thursday by claiming the 100m freestyle title in Singapore, adding to his earlier victory in the 200m freestyle event. Popovici emerged victorious in the prestigious race, setting a championship-record time of 46.51 seconds. Jack Alexy from the United States secured the silver medal with a time of 46.92 seconds, while Australia’s Kyle Chalmers took home the bronze, finishing in 47.17 seconds.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Popovici’s performance was the second-fastest time ever recorded in this event. His impressive finishing power was unmatched, especially in a field that did not include Olympic champion and world record holder Pan Zhanle of China. Popovici, known for his strategic mindset, emphasized the importance of mental focus during the race. “It’s usually the one who can detach themselves the most from the others,” the 20-year-old swimmer remarked about his approach.
The competition was initially anticipated to be a tight race among Popovici, Alexy, and Chalmers, as all three athletes posted fast qualifying times for the final. However, Popovici dominated the second half of the race, pulling away from his competitors to secure a decisive victory. Reflecting on his achievement, Popovici expressed his satisfaction by stating, “I’m just really happy to be here, more than any title at any time.”
In contrast, Pan Zhanle, who was expected to be a strong contender, did not advance to the final after finishing 10th in the semi-finals. Pan acknowledged his struggles, admitting that he “wasn’t in good shape” following an early exit in the 200m freestyle event as well.