European Aquatics Championships 2026: David Popovici takes third-straight 200m freestyle gold in Paris

If swimming has a triple-double, Romania’s David Popovici pulled it off on Friday (14 August), as he claimed his third-straight 200 metres freestyle crown on the European Aquatics Championships 2026 in Paris, France.

Two days prior, on 12 August, Popovici received his third consecutive gold within the 100m freestyle as effectively.

“My first reaction was that I am happy to be defending the triple-double 100 and 200,” he informed Olympics.com afterwards. “At the identical time, I ought to have gone just a little quicker, however I actually don’t need to be that man who can’t be blissful for such an necessary feat and win due to a time not going actually in accordance with plan.

“So at the end of the day, I’m really happy,” Popovici continued. “I’ll celebrate accordingly. I’ll come back training faster and smarter and stronger.”

On Friday, the 21-year-old led from begin to end, clocking a 1:44.15, holding off a problem from Lithuania’s Tomas Navikonis, who touched at 1:44.55. Team GB’s James Guy received the bronze medal at 1:44.87.

Popovici is a two-time Olympic medallist, having claimed 200m freestyle gold and 100m freestyle bronze at Paris 2024. He has dominated on the Europeans, profitable 2022 with a championship report earlier than defending his title in 2024.

He additionally owns two golds apiece within the 100m and 200m freestyle on the World Championships.

With all that have – and success – Popovici’s perspective has shifted.

“I used to, up until two years ago, treat swimming and sports way too obsessively. I was way, way too harsh on myself in the past,” he defined. “Now, I stopped swimming for objectives, titles and medals and all that. Sure, they’re great… but I’m swimming for the sake of performance, excellence, to try to be better than my older self.”

With the Olympic Games LA28 within the offing, that newfound perspective is informing how he approaches his Olympic title protection. 

“It will definitely be a better preparation, smarter preparation. And every year, every season that goes, we learn so much, and we just have to make sure we, or at least personally, I absorb as much information as possible,” mentioned Popovici. “At the tip of the day, the key for achievement continues to be that there is no such thing as a secret. It’s a complete lot of labor.

“So as long as you keep pushing and putting the bricks, it’s going to be fine.”