{"id":588897,"date":"2024-06-20T01:52:01","date_gmt":"2024-06-20T08:52:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=588897"},"modified":"2024-06-20T02:13:01","modified_gmt":"2024-06-20T09:13:01","slug":"european-championships-day-4-prelims-david-popovici-with-145-start-to-200-defence-splits-46-66-on-relay-anchor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/european-championships-day-4-prelims-david-popovici-with-145-start-to-200-defence-splits-46-66-on-relay-anchor\/","title":{"rendered":"European Championships, Day 4 Prelims: David Popovici With 1:45 Start To 200 Defence; Splits 46.66 On Relay Anchor"},"content":{"rendered":"

European Championships, Day 4 Prelims: David Popovici With 1:45 Start To 200 Defence; Splits 46.66 On Relay Anchor<\/h4>\n

David Popovici<\/strong> returned to the water the morning after swimming the third-fastest 100 free in history to go 1:45 over 200 at the European Aquatics Championships in Belgrade.<\/p>\n

The 19-year-old – who won double world and European gold in 2022 – returned to anchor Romania into the men’s 4×100 free final, splitting 46.66.<\/p>\n

Popovici retained his continental title in 46.88 on Wednesday, 0.08 off Pan Zhanle’s<\/strong> WR and 0.02 outside his European record of 46.86 en-route to gold at Roma 2022 which was then a world record.<\/p>\n

The Romanian was back in the water at the Sports and Recreational Center Milan Gale Mu\u0161katirovi\u0107 the following morning as he started the defence of his 200 title.<\/p>\n

Popovici posted the third-swiftest time in history and a world textile record of 1:42.97 at the Foro Italico two years ago.<\/p>\n

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David Popovici: Photo courtesy: European Aquatics<\/p><\/div>\n

On Thursday, he looked ominous, going through 100 in 50.84 (24.19\/26.65) – 0.72 off Paul Biedermann’s<\/strong> WR split in 2009 – before easy speed guided him to 1:45.44.<\/p>\n

Velimir Stjepanovic<\/strong> of Serbia was second through into the semis in 1:47.18, 10 years after he beat Biedermann to the European title in Berlin.<\/p>\n

Danas Rapsys<\/strong> followed the pair in 1:47.27 with Saso Boskan of Slovenian clinched the final semi spot in 1:48.74.<\/p>\n

Popovici returned for the men’s 4x100m freestyle relay, taking over with Romania in sixth before propelling them to third-fastest into the final in 3:15.20 behind Serbia (3:13.47) and Croatia (3:15.13).<\/p>\n

Elsewhere, Paulina Peda<\/strong> of Poland headed the women’s 100 fly in 58.14 ahead of 50 silver medallist Roos Vanotterdijk<\/strong> (58.45) with 2022 bronze medallist Lana Pudar<\/strong> through in 11th in 59.54.<\/p>\n

Kristyna Horska<\/strong> of Czechia leads the 200m breaststroke in 2:27.45 with 100 gold medallist Eneli Jefimova<\/strong> (2:28.93) and defending champion Lisa Mamie<\/strong> (2:29.67) also through.<\/p>\n

Reigning champion Apostolos Christou<\/strong> heads the men’s 50 back in 24.66.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n