David Popovici Swims 46.71 100 Free, #2 Performance All-Time, First-Ever Sub-24 Backhalf

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:
  • Prelims: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3
  • Finals: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3

On the final night of the 2025 LEN U23 Championships, Romanian David Popovici unleashed a scorching 46.71 to win the men’s 100 freestyle. This swim not only set a new European record but also stands as the fastest time in the world this year and the second-fastest swim of all time.

Updated Top 5 Performers All-Time:

1. Pan Zhanle (CHN) – 46.40 (2024)
2. David Popovici (ROU) – 46.71 (2025)*
3. Cesar Cielo (BRA) – 46.91 (2009)
4. Alain Bernard (FRA) – 46.94 (2009)
5. Caeleb Dressel (USA) – 46.96 (2019)

The 20-year-old Popovici, who previously held the world record with a best time of 46.86 from the 2022 World Championships, saw his record broken last summer at the Paris Olympics. There, he settled for bronze behind Pan Zhanle, who shattered the world record with a 46.40, and the ever-consistent Kyle Chalmers.

With tonight’s swim, Popovici has now broken the 47-second barrier on four separate occasions, the second-most in history, trailing only Pan, who has done so five times. A complete list of the 20 fastest performances in history appears below.

Updated Top 20 All-Time Performances:

1. Pan Zhanle (CHN) – 46.40 (2024)
2. David Popovici (ROU) — 46.71 (2025)*
3. Pan Zhanle (CHN) – 46.80 (2024)
4. David Popovici (ROU) – 46.86 (2022)
5. David Popovici (ROU) – 46.88 (2024)
6. Cesar Cielo (BRA) – 46.91 (2009)
7. Pan Zhanle (CHN) – 46.92 (2024)
8. Alain Bernard (FRA) – 46.94 (2009)
9. Caeleb Dressel (USA) – 46.96 (2019)
10. Pan Zhanle (CHN) – 46.97 (2023)
11. Pan Zhanle (CHN) – 46.97 (2024)
12. David Popovici (ROU) – 46.98 (2022)
13. Jack Alexy (USA) — 46.99 (2025)
14. Caeleb Dressel (USA) – 47.02 (2021)
15. Cameron McEvoy (AUS) – 47.04 (2016)
16. Eamon Sullivan (AUS) – 47.05 (2008)
17. Pan Zhanle (CHN) – 47.06 (2023)
18. David Popovici (ROU) – 47.07 (2022)
19. Kyle Chalmers (AUS) – 47.08 (2019)
20. Kyle Chalmers (AUS) – 47.08 (2021)

Another standout from tonight’s race was Popovici’s back-half speed of 23.98, which makes him the only man in history to close the final 50 meters in under 24 seconds. He previously held the two fastest back halves at 24.05 and 24.09 from the 2022 and 2024 European Championships, respectively. See the list of the fastest back-half splits below.

Fastest Flat-Start Back-Half Splits of All Time:

1. David Popovici (ROU), 23.98 — 2025 LEN U23 Championships*
2. David Popovici (ROU), 24.05 — 2022 European Championships
3. David Popovici (ROU), 24.09 — 2024 European Championships
4. Andrei Minakov (RUS) / Kyle Chalmers (AUS), 24.11 — 2021 Russian Nationals / 2023 World Championships
5. David Popovici (ROU) / Pan Zhanle (CHN), 24.12 — 2022 European Championships / 2024 Olympic Games

Note: Popovici did clock a 23.94 closing split on a relay at the 2024 European Championships, but since he did not lead off, it is not counted in the above flat-start rankings.

Splits Comparison, Top Five Men’s 100 Freestyle Swims:

Popovici is coming off a resurgent 2024 that saw him nearly recreate the earth-shattering swims he produced at the 2022 European Championships and win the first two Olympic medals of his career. After breaking the world record in the 100 free (46.86) and becoming the third swimmer ever (first textile) sub-1:43 in the 200 free (1:42.97) in 2022, Popovici missed the podium at the 2023 World Championships, but he’s come back with a vengeance since then.

At the European Championships last June, Popovici won double gold with the aforementioned 46.88 in the 100 free and 1:43.13 in the 200 free, which ranked him #2 and #1 in the world last year, respectively. One month later at the Olympics, the Romanian won gold in the 200 free (1:44.72) and earned bronze in the 100 free (47.49), and while he wasn’t able to hit his times from earlier in the year, it was still a strong showing under pressure.

It still feels like Popovici is only scratching the surface of his potential. Heading into the World Championships next month, he has to be considered the World Championship favorite in the 200 free—and perhaps a co-favorite in the 100 as well, given Pan’s season-best sits over a second slower at 47.77. He currently leads the 200 free world rankings with his 1:43.64 gold medal performance from earlier this week.

Race Video: