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ROME: David Popovich reacted “excitedly” after swimming “the best race I’ve ever done” to break the world record in the men’s 100m freestyle at the European Championships in Rome on Saturday.
“It’s nice to say I’m the fastest ever,” Popovich said.
The 17-year-old Romanian double world champion swam 46.86 seconds, 0.05 seconds shy of the old record set by Brazilian Cesar Cielo at the 2009 World Championships, also in Rome, while wearing a lightweight tights.
“Breaking the record Cesar Cielo set here in 2009 was fantastic and very special,” Popovich added.
Popovich is clearly enjoying the moment.
“That’s the excitement that just started. That’s it.”
“I don’t really have a lot of adjectives about how I feel. I’m just happy,” said Popovich, speaking flawless English.
The fastest time set by U.S. Olympic champion Caleb Dressel in a textile suit at the 2019 World Championships was 46.96 seconds.
“I plan to run fast, I plan to have fun, and that’s what it’s really about,” Popovich said.
“It hurts, but it’s still worth it, and I feel fine now.”
Hungary’s Kristof Milak, the world record holder in the 200m butterfly, finished second with a time of 47.47, while Italy’s Alessandro Miressi finished second with a time of 47.63 achieved third place.
“Right now, I’m at the world record club,” Popovich said.
“As soon as I finished speaking, Christopher Milac said welcome to the club.”
Asked if he swam the perfect game, Popovich replied: “I think yes, yes.”
But then he added: “Well, my coach has to make a decision, but for now, I think it’s probably the best game I’ve ever played.
Popovich eased into the final Friday with a new European record of 46.98 seconds.
“I said yesterday that the European record was just a step in the right direction, and I was right,” Popovich said.
In June, Popovich became the first person in nearly 50 years to complete the 100-200-meter freestyle doubles at the World Championships.
In Rome, he also competed in the 200m starting on Sunday and the 400m starting on Wednesday, but declined to predict any more world records.
“I think I still prefer 200, but I have to get closer to the world record, maybe not tomorrow, maybe not the day after, but I’ve got a lot of time, so don’t worry,” said Popovich, who is expected to start at the end of August. Peru at the World Junior Championships.
Another 17-year-old world champion also added European gold on Saturday.
Italian Benedetta Pilato won the women’s 100m breaststroke with a time of 1:05.97, more than two and a half points ahead of the world record set by American Lilly King in 2017.
Pilato is followed by compatriot Lisa Angiolini and Lithuanian 50m world champion Ruta Meilutyte.
Swedish veteran Sarah Sjostrom won the women’s 50m butterfly gold for the fifth time in 24.96. The 28-year-old is the only woman to run under 25 seconds in the 50m pool.
Marie Wattel of France took the silver medal and Maaike de Waard of the Netherlands finished third.
Frenchman Yohann Ndoye Brouard won the night’s opening final in the men’s 200m backstroke with a time of 1:55.62.
He beat Hungary’s Benedek Kovac and England’s Luke Greenbank.
18-year-old Viktoria Milhalyvari-Farkas led Hungary’s one-twos in the women’s 400m individual medley, ahead of Zsuzsanna Jakabos and Britain’s Freya Colbert third.
Italian Gregorio Paltrinieri leads German Lukas Martens and second Italian Lorenzo Galosi in the men’s 800m freestyle.
The Briton beat the Swede and the Dutch to win the women’s 400x100m freestyle relay at the end of the evening.
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