{"id":618714,"date":"2025-07-29T04:23:34","date_gmt":"2025-07-29T11:23:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=618714"},"modified":"2025-07-29T09:24:58","modified_gmt":"2025-07-29T16:24:58","slug":"world-championships-david-popovici-tips-luke-hobson-in-another-200-free-duel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/world-championships-david-popovici-tips-luke-hobson-in-another-200-free-duel\/","title":{"rendered":"World Championships: David Popovici Tips Luke Hobson in Another 200 Free Duel"},"content":{"rendered":"

World Championships: David Popovici Tips Luke Hobson in Another 200 Free Duel<\/strong><\/p>\n

The men\u2019s 200 freestyle final was one of the races of the 2024 Paris Olympics, with .15 seconds blanketing the top four finishers. Tuesday\u2019s final at the 2025 World Aquatics Championships only adds to the lore of a fascinating mid-distance group.<\/p>\n

As he did in Paris, David Popovici<\/strong> rallied in the final 50, getting past Luke Hobson<\/strong> to win his second world championship.<\/p>\n

Popovici went 1:43.53. He edged Hobson\u2019s 1:43.84. Silver went to 18-year-old Tatsuya Murasa<\/strong> of Japan in 1:44.54.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think even better than the Olympics, to be honest,” Popovici said. “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 \u2026 I\u2019m very proud of myself.\u201d<\/p>\n

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