David Popovici will compete in the European Short Course Championships from Otopeni (December 5-10) and the Romanian swimmer spoke about 2023, which has been “a busy year with ups and downs” for him.

David Popovich: “I had a break from the pool, but I swam in lakes and rivers”

David finished 6th (100m freestyle) and 4th (200m freestyle) at the World Championships in Fukuoka, winning multiple European and World titles for adults and juniors in 2022.

The athlete said that after the competition in Japan he did not enter the pool, but he did not stay away from the water either: he swam in lakes and rivers.

“The way I see things, I had two options: be sad or angry that I didn’t win, or try to find out why I didn’t win. I was so motivated that I wanted to go right back to training the next day, but my trainer wouldn’t let me go in the pool, so I took the day off.

I traveled so much that I never had time to appreciate all the beauty of my country, with its mountains, countryside and people, so I stayed in Romania. I’ve been swimming in lakes and rivers, so even though I’ve had a break from the pool, it hasn’t been a break from the water, and I’m fine now.

It’s been a busy year, with ups and downs, but I’m very motivated. I would rather be an athlete who can learn from defeat and be a more complete athlete, and at the same time a more complete person” – Davyd Popovychin an interview for European Aquatics.

David Popovich and short swimming events: “WHAT we practiced more”

More used to the longer distance (50m) events, David said he had “low expectations” for the shorter distance (25m) he entered, but that changed before the Europeans in Otopeni.

“For Melbourne (WC 2022) we didn’t really train, we went to see what would happen, but for this (EC Otopeni 2023) we trained more and put in a lot of effort, which makes me excited.

I’ve never been to a short water event with much ambition, but I think this one will be up there. I’m feeling good, the European short course will be interesting, I’m sure the organizers will be great and we’ll do our best to be good hosts and put on a show!

The most important thing is to put on a show so that hopefully more kids can see it and be inspired. I remember going to a competition when I was 12 years old and meeting Danas Rapshis and Katinka Hosszu; they came to the international championship in Romania and seeing them there helped me to increase my motivation. If children see me like this, then this is the best thing I can do for them” – Davyd Popovych.

David Popovich’s program for CE Swimming in a short pool with Otopeni

December 8: 200m freestyle and semi-finals

December 9: 100m freestyle swims and semi-finals / 200m freestyle final

December 10: 100 m freestyle final.

Romania will host the 22nd European Junior Short Course Championships from 5 to 10 December 2023 at the Otopeni Swimming Sports Complex.

Romania Party for CE Swimming in a short pool from Otopeni

WOMAN: Diana Stiger, Ioana Styrbu, Issia Prisekariu, Brigitta Wass, Maisa Ratsiou, Anastasia Bako, Daria Silishtianu

MAN: David Popovichi, Vlad Stancu, Andrey Angel, Patrick Dinu, Darius Koman, Robert Badea, Denis Popescu, Andrey Ungur, Mihai Gergeli, Daniel Nikusan, Vlad Mihalace, Andrey Proka, Nandor Nagy, Aleksandra Stoyka