The Romanian in Singapore dropped the encore, gold in the 100 and 200 sl, just like the world brace three years ago. And to think that until yesterday he wanted to leave: “I had thought of giving up, then I realized that I had to test my limits”. And he overcome them. And at the age of 21 he is the dominant of the speed
The jet man of world swimming is still him: David Popovici. An act of strength that of the Romanian phenomenon which, after the gold won two days ago in the 200 sl, rams up with the worldwide success in the 100. The owner of the speed is him. And Singapore’s brace arrives three years after that of Budapest (2022) which is added to the Olympic gold and bronze. And to think that, from Singapore, he wanted to leave: “I had thought of giving up – he said to the Popovic microphones -, then I understood that I had to test my limits again”. To overcome them. Successful mission.
who is Popovici
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Born in Bucharest on September 2004, David becomes a swimmer out of necessity: to correct a dorsal problem. But from rehabilitation to competition, for him, the stroke is very fast. At 10 years of age he has already demolished national records. To then take flight at the International Youth Championships, the European Championships and the World Cup. To understand us, in the (absolute) Hungarian world review, Popovici is only 17 years old! He studies psychology (the mother’s work) at the University of Bucharest, he gets up at 4.30 to have breakfast still with his eyes closed “I do it since I am a child: I sleep while I eat” and then train 6 hours a day, 9 km seated, gym and therapy. “Sport is fun, even when you struggle – he declares -, even when you are about to kill yourself and you come to vomit, after half an hour you find it fun”.
philosophy
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But David also has a passion for philosophy, especially for the Stoics (“I am looking for a serene life like them. And I think I have learned principles that also help in sport”), and for quotes. His favorite is an aphorism attributed to Seneca “the most powerful is the one who has himself in his own power”. Swimming side, his idol is athlete-extreme: Paul Georgescu, capable of a crazy no-stop of 100 kilometers in the pool. “It is an example for me. It makes me understand that there are no unsurpassed limits.” His other models? Michael Phelps, Anthony Ervin and Adam Peaty. But David Popovici can really bring swimming to another dimension. He is a unique mix of animal instinct, power, tactics, ferocity and speed, like no one before. His domain has just begun.
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