After unleashing a pair of sensational efforts in the 100-meter freestyle on the opening day of the World Junior Championships, Romanian star David Popovici cruised through the prelims of the 200 freestyle in Lima, Peru. Popovici went through his four laps in 1:49.40, which is basically a bath for the youngster and reigning world champion.
On the front of Romania’s 400 freestyle relay on Tuesday, Popovici registered times of 47.37 and 47.07, the latter effort good for No. 9 in history. The swim also helped his country to the gold medal. Now, Popovici will chase an individual title, which is only a formality.
At the recent European Championships in Rome, Popovici won the gold medal with the third-fastest time in history, a 1:42.97. The mark not only brought him into rare territory, it was the fastest swim ever recorded in a textile suit. How close Popovici can come to that personal best in the final will be interesting. One thing is certain: The teen never fails to dazzle.
Popovici was followed in qualifying the 200 freestyle by Batuhan Filiz, who was the only other swimmer to go sub-1:50. Filiz put together a swim of 1:49.76.
In other action, Portugal’s Diogo Ribeiro, a rising star on the international scene, advanced to the semifinals of the 100 butterfly in the no. 1 position, off a preliminary outing of 53.22. Poland’s Krzysztof Chmielewski what next in 53.64.
The Italian duo of Matilde Biagiotti (55.92) and Marina Cacciapuoti (56.21) led the way in the women’s 100 freestyle, with Hungarian Nicholas Padar (56.28) following in third place. Another Italian paced the women’s 200 butterfly, as Paola Borelli clocked a 2:14.29 to finish ahead of Hong Kong’s Sze Ki Mok (2:14.47).
Meanwhile, the men’s 200 individual medley was topped by Turkey’s Sanberk Yigit Oktarwho produced a morning swim of 2:01.76.
