​Athlete Robert Badea will be the first alternate in the 400m medley final at the World Swimming Championships in Doha, setting a national swimming record.

Robert Badya, 9th place at the distance of 400 m mixed at the World Swimming Championships

Badea clocked 4:18.43, fifth in heat three and ninth overall.

Only at the age of 16, Robert set a new national record in the age categories of 17 years (he also held the previous one – 4:18.80), 18 and 19+ years (belonged to Vlad Stanko – 4:18.70).

Robert Badia, trained by coach Iulia Becheru, will be the first reserve in the final scheduled for Sunday from 19:01.

Also in Doha, Robert Badea set a new national record 200 m medley (17 and 18 years old) – 2:01.78.

World Swimming Championships, athletes reached the finals in the 400 m medley:

1. David Johnston (USA) 4:12.51

2. Max Litchfield (Great Britain) +00.03

3. Daya Seto (Japan) +00.55

4. Carson Foster (USA) +00.73

5. Lewis Clerbert (New Zealand) +01.10

6. Balas Hollo (Hungary) +01.42

7. Lorne Wigginton (Canada) +02.03

8. Alberto Razzetti (Italy) +03.33

…..

9. Robert-Andrei Badia (Romania) +05.92.