The path to success: How Romanian David Popovici became the new star in world swimming

17-year old swimmer David Popovici is the new phenomenon in Romanian sports and a rising international star. Last summer, he was the youngest contender in two Olympic finals and the fourth-best in the world in 200 m freestyle. This year, he has already surpassed his previous performance by winning the 200 m freestyle final at the World Senior Championships in Budapest and setting a new junior world record.

“Everything he has achieved is a combination of rare talent, endless training sessions and a support system consisting of the right people, who knew how to nurture his talent. If all goes well, David has every chance to become the fastest swimmer of all time,” writes Romanian magazine Decat o Revista (DoR), which has recently published a feature on David’s rise to success.