David Popovici (21), the European champion in both the 100m and 200m freestyle, generated 9.3 million views across European Aquatics’ channels, the most during the European Swimming Championships in Paris (July 31–August 16).
David Popovici (21), fresh off winning the European 100m and 200m freestyle double for the third time in his career, spoke for 15 minutes with his rival and friend Kyle Chalmers (28), with both discussing current and important topics in world swimming and their respective events. The meeting took place under the auspices of Arena, the equipment sponsor of both swimmers.
An early contender for race of the year, Romania’s David Popovici overcame the blistering opening split from Russia’s Egor Kornev to capture the European title in the 100m freestyle in Paris. He touched in another Championship Record time of 46.56, lowering his own standard from yesterday’s semifinals, in which he touched in 46.76.
The Romanian won the 100/200m freestyle double at Rome 2022 and Belgrade 2024, and he made it three straight 100m freestyle titles in the French capital earlier in the week. The Olympic champion returned to the Olympic Aquatic Centre for the 200m freestyle final, where he came home to wrap up the treble double.
Luca Hoek is 18 years old and surely grimaced when he saw on the video scoreboard that he had finished fourth in Europe, that the medal had slipped away after setting the Spanish record the previous afternoon (47.26), and realizing that he could even improve in the 100m freestyle final, one of swimming’s premier events alongside the 200m. And, in fact, he has reason to be disappointed.
