David Popovici, Romania’s new hero

Romanian swimmers David Popovici and Robert Glinţă returned from the World Aquatics Championships to a heros welcome

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Roxana Vasile, 27.06.2022, 14:00

Red carpet, officials and fans, lots of flowers, smiles, hugs and speeches – that was the atmosphere on Sunday night, when the Romanian delegation returned from the World Aquatics Championships in Budapest. The man who stole the show was the 17-year-old David Popovici, who made history in Budapest. At his first debut in suchlike events he was the first in the past 49 years to have become world champion in the 100 and 200-meter freestyle races. In Budapest, Popovici has also set two new world records for junior competitions. His team mate, Robert Glinta, has occupied the fifth position in the 50-meter backstroke race coming eighth in the 100-meter backstroke event. The double world champion has thanked all the fans for supporting him and confessed that he wants his performance to inspire many people to take up sports.

David Popovici: “I would like to thank all those who believed in me, who have been supporting me and would also like to thank all the Romanians who were thrilled to watch my race on telly, to all those who came in person to watch me. It was superb in Budapest and I know that many would like to be in my place knowing they have the support of so many people. I am sincerely honored to represent this beautiful country and feel you are by my side.”

David Popovici received 200,000 Euros worth of prize from the Romanian government, while president Klaus Iohannis decided to award the double world champion with the highest national order, Romanian Star in rank of knight and coach Adrian Radulescu with the national order of Merit in rank of knight.

David is the model and hes going to motivate the entire country. We have the duty to build swimming pools, encourage this sport so that we may have many champions,” Sports Minister Eduard Novak has said. “The Romanian sport is in need of many things and the World Championships in Budapest should stimulate the government to invest in infrastructure” – says Camelia Potec, president of the Federation of Swimming and Modern Pentathlon.

The opinion is shared by many who have repeatedly pointed to the shortage of funds in several sporting disciplines which led to weaker and weaker results in international competitions, where athletes from Romania used to be a force to be reckoned with. Even the world champion David Popovici himself said quote: ʺHopefully, the wave I have created will help the Romanian sport to make headway, because it clearly can do with a little bit of resuscitation.” This is a busy period for David who will next participate in the European Junior Championships in Romania, due over July 5 and 10, the European Championships in Italy and the World Junior Championships in Peru.

(bill)