2025 LEN U23 European Championships
- Thursday, June 26 – Saturday, June 28
- X-bionic® sphere Pool, Šamorín, Slovakia
- LCM (50m)
- Start Times – Local: Prelims – 9:30 am / Finals – 6:00 pm
- Start Times – EST: Prelims – 3:30 am / Finals – 12:00 pm
- Meet Central
- Psych Sheets
- Live Results
- Livestream (Pay-To-Watch)
- Recaps:
H/T to Tencor for the inspiration for this article.
On Saturday in Samorin, Romanian David Popovici swam a new best time of 46.71, which is the #2 performance in the history of the event.
The result is building anticipation for an explosive head-to-head showdown in Singapore between Popovici and China’s Pan Zhanle. Both swimmers are only 20 years old, setting up as much as a decade of battles between the two.
In spite of their relatively-young age, the two now hold 9 of the 12 fastest performances in history in an event where no other swim in the top 50 performances was done by a swimmer as young as they are.
Top 15 Performances in History – Men’s 100 LCM Freestyles
| Swimmer | Time | Year | Age | |
| 1 | Pan Zhanle | 46.4 | 2024 | 19 |
| 2 | David Popovici | 46.71 | 2025 | 20 |
| 3 | Pan Zhanle | 46.8 | 2024 | 19 |
| 4 | David Popovici | 46.86 | 2022 | 17 |
| 5 | David Popovici | 46.88 | 2024 | 19 |
| 6 | Cesar Cielo | 46.91 | 2009 | 22 |
| 7 | Pan Zhanle | 46.92 | 2024 | 20 |
| 8 | Alain Bernard | 46.94 | 2009 | 25 |
| 9 | Caeleb Dressel | 46.96 | 2019 | 22 |
| 10 | Pan Zhanle | 46.97 | 2023 | 19 |
| 10 | Pan Zhanle | 46.97 | 2024 | 19 |
| 12 | David Popovici | 46.98 | 2022 | 17 |
| 13 | Jack Alexy | 46.99 | 2025 | 22 |
| 14 | Caeleb Dressel | 47.02 | 2021 | 24 |
| 15 | Cameron McEvoy | 47.04 | 2016 | 21 |
| 16 | Eamon Sullivan | 47.05 | 2008 | 22 |
Popovici is currently 7,591 days old. In his most recent entry on the list, the World Record swim from August, Pan was a few days shy of his 20th birthday, or 7,306 days old.
While there are a few other 20 year olds on the list, none were as young as Pan or Popovici currently are. Australian James Magnussen was 7,644 days old when he swam the #22 time in history (47.10). American Chris Guiliano was 7,664 days old when he swam the #42 time in history (47.25).
The next-highest ranked swimmers who were younger than Pan and Popovici is a tie: Russian Kliment Kolesnikov was 7,574 days old when he swam 47.31 in history in 2021, and American Jack Alexy was 7,494 days old when he swam 47.31 in 2023. That ties them as the #53 performances in history.
While the men’s 10o free isn’t exactly an event dominated by veterans, most elite swimmers go their best times at ages 21 and 22. The graph below shows the age distribution of the current top 51 men’s performers in history.
That means that Pan and Popovici are, based on historical standards, coming into their prime.
Mouthwatering prospect for many years of to and fro WR swims and head to head battles between these 2 great swimmers. Bring it on!!!
Not a big deal, but that 7th-fastest time was swum on July 27—Pan was still 19 then, not 20. His 20th year has been pretty quiet so far, with only one long-course meet. He did win 9 titles, but was clearly not in his best form, swimming with a 102°F fever. Hopefully he makes it to Singapore for an explosive head-to-head showdown with flying Popovic.
Actually all of Pan’s times listed above were at 19. His has only 1 sub 48 (47.77) after turning 20.
Pan was 19 am I the last to know this? His behavior after the Olympics makes a lot more sense. (Not picking a side please don’t attack me)
What behaviour ?
My 19 year old would not have said what Pan said about Chalmers and Alexy. They would have been more mature. But I suppose there was a lot of pressure on him.
Yeah, Pan’s a bit sensitive about it—understandably so. After his actually pretty solid 100 free debut at Worlds (4th place at 17 years old), a well-known U.S. coach told him, “You might consider the IM instead.” That was when he didn’t even know how to do a crossover turn—still doesn’t, to be honest. And if you pay attention, his arm span isn’t quite on par with other world-class sprinters. He was never really the favorite.
How well-known?
former national coach? I think.
Hard to miss that in the general trend of sprinters getting bigger and stronger, it is two guys on the skinnier side with Popov-like efficient technique that are dominating.
Also ones that can swim mid distance and distance events well.
These two are gonna be fighting for the 100m free GOAT title in the coming years.
im confused… 9/10 what?
9 out of the 10 fastest textile performances of all time.
9 of the 10!!
Units.
Units of what?
Units of stress.
David Popovici and Pan Zhanle are two swimmers of all time