SwimSwam Podcast: David Popovici is Shooting to be the Fastest 16YO in History

On the SwimSwam Podcast dive deeper into the sport you love with insider conversations about swimming. Hosted by Coleman Hodges and Gold Medal Mel Stewart, SwimSwam welcomes both the biggest names in swimming that you already know, and rising stars that you need to get to know, as we break down the past, present, and future of aquatic sports.

We sat down with David Popovici, the newly 16-year-old Romanian sprinter who recently made waves by swimming faster than Caeleb Dressel at 16. Popovici seems like a very grounded kid who really enjoys swimming. You can hear that he has lofty goals, which he shares openly, but he’s not cocky. He also talks about his training group in Romania, going for an Olympic A cut, and the struggles of having great hair.

Music: Otis McDonald
www.otismacmusic.com

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Opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the interviewed guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs, and viewpoints of the hosts, SwimSwam Partners, LLC and/or SwimSwam advertising partners.

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MBB
2 years ago

47.30 HI

Dylan
3 years ago

Hell ya bro talk that talk. Nobody got anywhere being scared to be the best

Nonrevhoofan
3 years ago

His tenor was refreshing. I thought his self confidence was more on display than his brashness (a much more nuanced term than cocky). I thought his command of the English language, and especially colloquialisms, was extremely impressive – would have loved Coleman to ask about it. I also am interested in his academic interests and even his longer-term non-swimming plans. And, who couldn’t love the conclusion (paraphrasing): “I wish my competitors much luck because they will need it!”? Swimming needs personalities to sell to the masses – here’s hoping that David will become an icon.

Swammer
Reply to  Nonrevhoofan
3 years ago

Nah man… saying stuff like that at 16 is just cocky nothing else

Amogus
Reply to  Swammer
2 years ago

Ratio

sscommentor
3 years ago

start the hype train for LA24, lets gooooo

worm
Reply to  sscommentor
2 years ago

how about tokyo 2020???

Tomek
3 years ago

I liked his ending note, I wish a lot of luck to competitors because they will need it 🙂

Bruh
3 years ago

Popovic + Vici (I conquered) = Popovici

Texas
Reply to  Bruh
3 years ago

PopovicVici

Swammer
3 years ago

Sounds pretty cocky to me

PVSFree
Reply to  Swammer
3 years ago

He’s still only 16, I don’t think we can judge him too much

Swammer
Reply to  PVSFree
3 years ago

Well you should be able to think a bit about how you phrase something at 16 and his English isn’t bad as to where a phrase like “ I wish my competitors luck because they will need it” is anything else but cocky imo…

Amogus
Reply to  Swammer
2 years ago

He backed it up tho

nuotofan
3 years ago

Cocky? Perhaps the contrary..In the interview, Popovici said that the “WR for 16 year-old” is Chalmers’ 48.6… I don’t think so: Chalmers swam a 48.69 on December 2015, but he was 17. I think that before turning 17 Chalmers’ PB was the 49.27 he swam on April 2015. Chalmers became World Junior Champions in the late August swimming a great 48.47, but he was already 17 (and 2 months). So, Popovici, with his 49.26 (at 16 sharp) should be already faster than Chalmers at 16. About Dressel, he swam 49.28 on early August 2013 just before turning 17. And then he became World Junior Champions (30/8/2013 exactly two years before Chalmers) swimming 48.97 at 17 sharp.
Obviously Nag records… Read more »

Joel
Reply to  nuotofan
3 years ago

Chalmers swam 48.69 in April 2015. He was still 16 . I know Popovici has only just turned 16 so he has more chances to beat Chalmers. See how he goes.

nuotofan
Reply to  Joel
3 years ago

You’re right. Yesterday I checked a list comprehensive, in theory, of all Chalmers’ results, but in that list was absent that 48.69 at Australian Champs on April 2015 (about April 2015 was present only the 49.27 at Australian Age Group Champs), and, my bad, I had forgot it. In general I really don’t understand what happened yesterday in this section after my comment: for some hours I couldn’t read any more the previous comments and didn’t appeared other comments..I think that discussions among swimming fans should occur in a much more relaxed way. Anyway, yesterday I made an error, really no problem to admit it.

About Coleman Hodges

Coleman Hodges

Coleman started his journey in the water at age 1, and although he actually has no memory of that, something must have stuck. A Missouri native, he joined the Columbia Swim Club at age 9, where he is still remembered for his stylish dragon swim trunks. After giving up on …

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