Swimmer David Popovici, named athlete of the year at the „Champions of Swimming 2024” Gala at the Royal Palace on Tuesday, said that his main competitions in 2025 are the Under-23 European Championships (June 26-28) in Samorin, Slovakia, and the Senior World Championships in Singapore (July 11 – August 3).
„Besides the World Championships that I am preparing for, I want to go on a very beautiful vacation afterwards. I want to spend as much time as possible with my family, friends, and doing what I love. Starting tomorrow, on April 9, I will be at the National Championships, and then at the Under-23 Europeans at the end of June. I am used to the Senior Europeans, and now at the Under-23, I think it will be a good opportunity for many younger athletes to shine and show the world what they are made of. And a good opportunity for those who are, like I was at their age, around 16, 17, 18 years old, to give me a run for my money, maybe even surpass me, or maybe I surpass them. It’s competition, that’s what competition is about,” said Popovici, quadruple European champion in the 100m freestyle and 200m freestyle.
Don't put pressure on him
As usual, David Popovici does not want to set objectives for this year's competitions, but he is sure that results will come if he reaches his best version: "Since I was young, I didn't want to fall into the trap of setting objectives for myself, because I read somewhere in a book where the author was trying to define happiness, which is very difficult. Many philosophers, poets, authors have tried over time. But I liked his definition, quite cold and logical, which goes like this: 'Happiness is the function of reality minus the expectations.' Depending on the expectations you set for yourself, you allow yourself not to leave disappointed, and to succeed in surpassing them and be content. So, I believe that expectations play a very important role in everyday happiness and I avoid certain expectations. Clearly, I have my objectives, but they are there to be, I don't make a goal out of them."
What he says about a record
A European or world record remains possible in 2025, just like a new chapter in the rivalry with Chinese swimmer Pan Zhanle at the World Championships in Singapore.
"A record is always in the plans. The thing is that these world records are beautiful, they are pleasant, just like the medals, but... If I focus solely on swimming as well as I can and if I concentrate solely on doing what I know best, somehow they come. Rivalry with Pan Zhanle? Yes, for sure. I broke the world record, then he broke it twice, maybe I'll catch up, maybe he will also catch up. He will win some, I will win some. Clearly," said the Dinamo CS champion.
David Popovici recounted an incident where a lady recognized him after he left a barbershop and happily said to him: "'Live your life!' I found it very beautiful and very important, and that's what I advise everyone. Regardless of sports results, regardless of how soon or late they may come, regardless of the hardships you go through, glory, failure, and so on, to live your life. That's what I try to do as best as I can, and that's my advice for everyone, if you allow me to give it. I think each of us sometimes feels that maybe we are not living entirely for ourselves, but maybe for the expectations of others, what someone else says, or the world in general. So, this seemed to me the most relevant advice I could give and universally valid, to live our lives."
At the Nationals in Otopeni (April 9-13), David Popovici will compete in the 50m freestyle, 100m freestyle, 200m freestyle, and 100m butterfly: "My coach told me that in Singapore, at the World Championships, I will have 5-6 days of intense competition, so I need to get used to about 5-6 competitions. It's my first competition after the Olympics."