The Romanian prodigy David Popovici started the European Swimming Championships by breaking the European record in the 100 meter freestyle on Friday.
The time was 46.98 – just seven hundredths off the world record.
The 100m freestyle world record had stood ever since the long-course World Championships in Rome in 2009 – a championship when there was complete record slaughter due to the so-called shark suits, which were banned soon after.
Brazilian César Cielo's 100-meter freestyle record is one of the few that has stood until 2022.
But on Saturday, when the long-track EC was decided in the same pool as it was in 2009, it was time for this record to disappear as well.
17-year-old Popovici, who in June won gold in both the 100-meter and 200-meter freestyle during the WC in Budapest, swam five hundredths faster than Cielo did 13 years ago.
- It is scary to know that you are the fastest person who has ever walked on earth, at this distance, he says to SVT Sport.
- It is fantastic.
The text is updated