David Popovici wins double gold at European Aquatics Championships

Romanian swimmer David Popovici has achieved historic success at the European Aquatics Championships in Paris, winning gold medals in both the 100m and 200m freestyle events. With these victories, he becomes the first swimmer to win both distances at three consecutive European championships: Rome (2022), Belgrade (2024), and Paris (2026). Additionally, he was officially named the European Swimmer of the Year 2025 by European Aquatics.

Following his competitive success, Popovici expressed a desire to relax and reconnect with Romania through travel. He also shared a personal request to his grandmother, asking her to prepare her traditional cherry sponge cake (pandișpan cu vișine) as he takes a break from his strict athletic diet.

Tennis legend Ilie Năstase commented on the achievements, stating that while the victories bring pride to Romania, the performances are the result of Popovici’s individual merit rather than national support. Năstase used the occasion to criticize the lack of sports infrastructure in Romania, arguing that the country fails to prioritize sports investment compared to other civilized nations.