17-year-old David Popovici finally breaks 13-year 100m world record

The swimming world has been stunned after teenage swimming sensation David Popovici finally broke the longstanding 100m freestyle mark.

The world has been left stunned as Romanian teenager David Popovici finally broke the 100m men’s freestyle world record, which has stood for the last 13 years.

Brazilian Cesar Cielo’s record which has stood since the 2009 World Championship but long been given an asterisk because it was during the buoyant body suit era.

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But records, however they’re set, are meant to be broken and Popovici has put his name up in lights after shattering the record by 0.05 seconds at the European Swimming Championships.

Just yesterday, Popovici’s semi-final time of 46.98 seconds made him the fourth swimmer ever to go under the 47-second barrier along with Cielo (46.91), Alain Bernard (46.94) and Caeleb Dressel (46.96).

Popovici buried that time in the final in the new world record time of 46.86.

What is even more impressive is the Romanian is still just over a month from his 18th birthday — and he already wants to take the time into the 45-second 100m.

Popovici said it was “best race I ever did” after the race.

“It’s nice being able to say that I am the fastest to ever do it,” Popovici said.

“It was great and it’s very special to break this record that was set here in 2009 by Cesar Cielo.”

It’s quite the show and tell for the kid. Photo by Alberto PIZZOLI / AFP

Popovici clearly enjoyed the moment.

“That was euphoria just kicking in. Simply that,” he said. “There’s not really a lot of adjectives I can give on how I’m feeling. I’m simply just happy.”

Hungary’s Kristof Milak, the world record holder in the 200m butterfly, was second in 47.47 with Italy’s Alessandro Miressi third 47.63.

“Right now, I’m in the world record club,” Popovici said.

“Just after I finished, Kristof Milak said to me welcome to the club.”

Asked if he had swum the perfect race, Popovici replied: “I think so, yeah.”

But then he added: “Well my coach has to decide that but for the moment I think it’s probably the best race I ever did.”

🚨🚨NEW WORLD RECORD ALERT 🚨🚨
David Popovici set a new World Record in the 100m Freestyle Final at the @leneuropeanaquatics Championships

⏱️46.86#swimming#worldrecordpic.twitter.com/4uTYYgtnHp

— FINA (@fina1908) August 13, 2022

Popovici had eased into the final on Friday with a new European record of 46.98 seconds.

“Yesterday I said that the European record was just a step in the right direction, and I was right,” Popovici said.

In June, Popovici became the first man to complete the 100-200m freestyle double at the World Championships in nearly 50 years.

Popovici still has more races to swim, having entered into the 200m and 400m freestyle events.

The world was blown away by what it saw in the teenager.

Romania's David Popovici even seems in disbelief. Photo by Alberto PIZZOLI / AFP

Quick to response was Cielo, who praised Popovici’s performance for snatching his record.

“I knew this day was coming … And it did! My 100m freestyle world record was broken after 13 years!” he tweeted.

“Congratulations, Popovici! Glad to have had this huge record for so long!

“There is the new fastest man in the world in the 100 meters freestyle and he is just getting started!”

SwimSwam reporter Loretta Race posted: “It took over a decade to drop .05 off the men’s 1free WR. That’s why Popovici is a once-in-a-generation talent.”

Former swimmer turned commentator Kyle Sockwell said US superfish Caeleb Dressel had seen the swim and “if it lit a fire in him we … could be in store for some INSANE racing over the next few years. Buckle up, y’all”.

Amazing win for David Popovici today in #LENRoma2022!
Congratulations! 🇹🇩🥇👏👏👏 https://t.co/b7zxnsQ2FT

— Romania in the EU 🇷🇴 (@romaniaineu) August 13, 2022

With AFP