David Popovici Beats Luke Hobson in 200 Free at 2025 Worlds

World Championships: David Popovici Tips Luke Hobson in Another 200 Free Duel

The males’s 200 freestyle remaining was one of many races of the 2024 Paris Olympics, with .15 seconds blanketing the highest 4 finishers. Tuesday’s remaining on the 2025 World Aquatics Championships solely provides to the lore of an interesting mid-distance group.

As he did in Paris, David Popovici rallied within the remaining 50, getting previous Luke Hobson to win his second world championship.

Popovici went 1:43.53. He edged Hobson’s 1:43.84. Silver went to 18-year-old Tatsuya Murasa of Japan in 1:44.54.

“I think even better than the Olympics, to be honest,” Popovici stated. “You know why? I trained a lot for the Olympics, but this coming (in) a year, a more relaxed year, more easy-going after the Olympics … I’m very proud of myself.”

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Hobson took the race out, splitting 50.07 on the primary 100. The hope from the American was to construct a lead that was Popovici-proof, after the Romania surged within the remaining 10 yards of the Olympic remaining to sneak his hand on the wall first.

Despite Hobson’s greatest efforts – and a time that was .11 off his private greatest – Popovici did it once more. His remaining 50 of 26.43 was the quickest within the subject and the practically a second faster than Hobson’s 27.39.

“Obviously I always wanted to go for the win and I’ve been working towards it for a couple of years now, and I’ve just got to keep working towards it,” Hobson stated. “Overall though, I was really happy with that swim. Great time. It’s great to have two people under 44 in the finals again, so hopefully many more great races to come.”

Murasa is a part of a youth motion on this occasion, one among two 18-year-olds within the remaining. He was sixth on the midway level and fifth within the flip for dwelling however received to the rostrum .18 seconds forward of Hwang Sun-Woo of South Korea. Hwang received the occasion in Doha in 2024 and had medaled in every of the final three Worlds.

“It’s amazing,” Murasa stated. “I was aiming for it, but I honestly didn’t think I could actually get it. Having Popovici next to me helped a lot—those last moments were really tough, but I chased him down with everything I had, like my life depended on it. I think this is a medal I won through sheer grit.”

Polish file holder Kamil Sieradzki completed fifth in 1:45.22. Carlos D’Ambrosio, the 18-year-old Italian, went 1:45.27, .04 slower than the Italian file he set in semifinals. Britain’s James Guy completed seventh, with American Gabriel Jett eighth.