David Popovici Reigns Supreme in 200m Freestyle! Historic Record: First to Achieve the 'Grand Double' Three Times in a Row

David Popovici has once again claimed the top spot at the European Swimming Championships in Paris, securing gold in the 200-meter freestyle. This victory adds another prestigious title to his name and marks a historic achievement: he is the first swimmer ever to win both the 100m and 200m freestyle events for three consecutive European Championships.

Competing from lane four, typically reserved for top contenders, Popovici delivered a flawless performance. He led the race with confidence, finishing with a time of 1:44.15. This triumph follows his earlier success in the 100-meter freestyle, solidifying his dominance in European swimming. The remarkable feat of winning both flagship events for a third consecutive edition sets a new benchmark in the sport's history.

On the podium, Popovici was joined by Lithuania's Tomas Navikonis, who finished in 1:44.55, and Great Britain's James Guy, clocking in at 1:44.87. Popovici's personal best in the 200m freestyle, set in 2022 with a time of 1:42.97, ranks him fourth all-time and is the fastest in the modern textile suit era. This time is remarkably close to the world record of 1:42.00 set by Paul Biedermann in 2009.

Popovici himself has previously acknowledged the difficulty of breaking Biedermann's long-standing world record, even considering it potentially more challenging than his own 100m freestyle world record. His 2022 performance places him firmly in elite company, with four of his times now ranking among the top ten fastest ever recorded in the 200m freestyle. These include his 1:43.13 from the 2025 Belgrade Europeans, 1:43.21 from the 2022 Budapest Worlds, and 1:43.53 from the Singapore World Championships.