2024 ROMANIAN NATIONALS
- Wednesday, April 17th – Sunday, April 21st
- Otopeni, Romania
- LCM (50m)
- Start List
- Recap #1
- Results
Day 3 of the 2024 Romanian Nationals unfolded in Otopeni with 19-year-old David Popovici taking on his 3rd freestyle event of the competition.
After already topping the 50m free (22.27) and 200m free (1:45.10) podiums, Popovici tried the 400m free on for size and found the same gold medal-worthy success.
The teen stopped the clock in a result of 3:47.54 to handily defeat the field as the sole swimmer to dip under the 3:50 barrier.
Behind him was Vlad Stefan Stancu who collected silver in 3:54.38 while Nandor Nagy earned bronze in 3:55.56.
Popovici’s result checks in as a new lifetime best, shaving .45 off his previous career-quickest outing of 3:47.99 notched in the prelims at the 2022 European Championships.
There in Rome, he ultimately dropped the 400m free final but that’s where the Olympic finalist ripped the then-world record time of 46.86 in the 100m free and became the #3 200m free performer in history with a time of 1:42.97.
Tonight’s splits for Popovici were as follows:
Popovici’s time fell short of the World Aquatics Olympic Qualification Time of 3:46.78 although it wouldn’t have meant he’d contest the event in Paris should his time have made the grade.
I see some consistency here from David! Leaning in the right direction.
Lukas Martens also just went a 3:41.98 in the 400 feee at a random meet in Germany btw
Martens always seems to swim 3:41 at random meets but never quite puts it together when it really counts
That‘s a bit harsh if you consider this is just his second 3:41 ever.
He’s won a medal at the last three World Championships and has gone 3.41/3.42 each time. Hardly the record of someone who can’t put it together on the big stage.
When you go 3:41 in April and are still only #3 for the year 🤯
I think sub 3.40 is loading…
Maybe even multi sub 3:40 loading
Pops.. wake up, eat, do a PB in off event and destroy the field, go to bed.
200 free is going to be cooking in Paris.
Agnel’s Olympic record going down, WR sadly probably still safe.
MP Olympic record?
The London 2012 200 free podium is incredibly cursed now that I think about it lol
Cursed by their own poor judgement
Did I miss something with Park?
Lord of the Rings: Return of the King
I have to imagine losing his WR lit a bit of a fire beneath him again
I am Aceildor’s heir. Welcome me as the King of Gondor.
Saruman says: eat my staff!
Don’t mean to out nerd you, but you do know it’s spelled “Aragorn” with a second R right?
Let him cook!
I like that this article and the Pan Zhanle one are back-to-back.
Is that a photo of him thinking, “NEVER AGAIN!”?
That was my face when I used to do the 4 IM.