David Popovici (two-time world champion in 100m and 200m freestyle) is participating with the Romanian delegation at the World Swimming Championships in Fukuoka (Japan) from July 14 to 30.

David Popovych and the recipe for happiness and success: Epicurus, Seneca and Marcus Aurelius

In an interview with the daily newspaper El Pais, the Romanian athlete talked about his success, about the medals won and how to reach this level.

“If I compare myself with other swimmers, it may seem that I am easier. But every workout requires the same level of effort.

I’ve developed my own mental pain scale, and I often feel more exhausted in training than I do in races.

I improve every day. There is no magic or mystery. High performance is pretty boring, 99% of the time you’re just training. You compete three or four times a year and it feels like you’re just passing the time staring at the black line at the bottom of the pool. You have to find a way to beat boredom.

I consider myself different. Winning the 2022 World Cup started something new for me, I don’t want to be a hypocrite. I always wanted to stand out. My style is not traditional, I swim as I did when I was a child.

Epicurus, Seneca and especially Marcus Aurelius helped me find happiness. This is not the usual happiness that people talk about – laughter, smiles, tears of joy. It is the happiness that comes from fulfillment. My definition of happiness is finding a balance, and the only thing that matters is what I have in my mind and heart,” David Popovich told El Pais.

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