Romanian Olympic Champion David Popovici Says, “I’m Back, Baby!”

2026 ROMANIAN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

The 2026 Romanian National Championships wrapped up over the weekend, however not earlier than 21-year-old Olympic champion David Popovici made his mark throughout a number of occasions.

The freestyle ace raced on all the 5 days, with every end result stirring up glimpses into the shape the Romanian is in with this yr’s European Championships on the horizon.

Before we define Popovici’s outcomes from this competitors, check out his enthusiastic put up on Instagram, the place he mentioned, “Haven’t said or felt this in a long time but…big things are coming. I’m back, baby.”

Multiple fellow Olympic speedsters responded with their reactions, together with newly minted 50m freestyle world file holder Cameron McEvoy who replied with a enjoyable graphic.

His Aussie Olympic teammate Kyle Chalmers commented, “When did you leave??” to which Popovici replied, “Never left, but inertia was leading the way. Not anymore.”

British Olympic multi-medalist James Guy was one other respondent, as you’ll be able to see within the feedback beneath.

Recap of Popovici’s 2026 Romanian National Championship Performances

Day One – 50m Freestyle

Popovici posted a strong morning 50m freestyle outing of twenty-two.11 to seize the highest seed out of the heats earlier than slicing off one other .09 to test in with a gold medal-worthy effort of twenty-two.02 in the principle occasion.

His time tied his Third-best ever efficiency, together with his resume boasting a lifetime better of 21.83 from taking the title finally yr’s version of those championships. He now ranks simply outdoors the record of prime 25 performers worldwide on the season.

David Popovici‘s Top 5 LCM 50 Freestyle Performances

1. 21.83 – April 2025
2. 21.86 – June 2025
3. 22.02 – June 2025 & April 2026
4. –
5. 22.14 April 2025

Day Two – 200m Freestyle

The reigning Olympic champion tried his signature 200m freestyle on for measurement, reaping gold efficiently in a swift time of 1:45.89.

The speedster break up 24.19/26.64 (50.83)/27.68/27.38 to get the job achieved, rating him simply outdoors the record of prime ten performers worldwide on the season.

Popovici’s lifetime greatest on this 2free occasion stays on the otherworldly 1:42.97 he placed on the books en path to gold on the 2022 European Championships to develop into the Third-fastest performer of all time. He earned gold on the 2024 Olympic Games in a mark of 1:44.72.

Day Three – 4x100m Freestyle Relay

Popovici anchored his Clubul Sportiv Dinamo Bucuresti’s males’s 4x100m free relay in a monster 46.97, by far the quickest of any leg on any squad.

According to the outcomes, Popovici opened in 22.46 and closed in 24.51 to assist his squad seize the gold decisively, establishing a brand new Romanian nationwide file of three:18.19 within the course of.

Day Four – 100m Freestyle

He picked up his Third particular person occasion win of the meet within the 100 freestyle, the ultimate occasion of day 4’s session. Popovici stopped the clock in 47.52, coming in half a second forward of silver medalist Patrick Dinu‘s 48.01.

This swim was a few second off his lifetime greatest within the occasion of 46.51, which he swam on the World Championships in Singapore. He was additionally about two tenths off the 47.30 he swam finally yr’s meet.

Popovici’s swim is tied for the 4th quickest time on the planet this season with Brooks Curry‘s swim on the Malmsten Swim Open in Stockholm. American Chris Guiliano at the moment holds the highest time at 47.38, a little bit greater than a tenth forward.

Day Five – Mixed Medley Relay

On the ultimate day, Popovici took on the fly leg of his squad’s blended medley relay, the place he delivered a spicy break up of 51.36.

That included a 23.57 opener and a 27.79 on the again half.