Popovici (ROU) set 100m freestyle European record

Superb performance by 17-year-old Romanian David Popovici at the European Championships in Rome. Popovici, in the semifinal of the men's 100m freestyle, set the European record getting close to the world record that he will try to take tomorrow in the final. This is Popovici's super time: 46.98, just 7 hundredths off Cesar Cielo's world record that has stood since 2009 and which, by a sign of destiny, was previously beaten in the same pool of the Foro Italico. The Romanian's second 50m (24.05) was the fastest in history. “It is OK, it’s a fine route to the final and a step towards the right direction. It feels normal for me to go step-by-step and keep improving my time," Popovici said as he exited the pool.