European Championships, Day 5: David Popovici Blasts World-Leading 1:43.13 in 200 Free

You can just about hear the theme for “The Breakfast Club” playing over the results put up by David Popovici at the European Championships this week.

Don’t you, forget about Popovici … Even Simple Minds will tell you that.

After a difficult 2023, Popovici offered another reminder that he’s in good form and a serious threat in Paris by blasting a world No. 1 time to win the 200 freestyle in Belgrade Friday. His time of 1:43.13 is the fastest in the world this year by a clear second and near his meet record from 2022.

All the action on Night 5 in Belgrade:

Women’s 100 butterfly

Roos Vanotterdijk delivered a historic swim for Belgium, just the country’s sixth ever gold medal at Euros. She went 57.47, improving by three tenths her national record from last summer. It was .27 over Georgia Damasioti of Greece, who went 57.74. Sara Junevik, the 50 fly champ, was third.

Men’s 200 freestyle

A day after putting a charge into the 100 free world record, David Popovici resumed his quest for the long-held Paul Biedermann mark of 1:42.00 from the Rome Worlds.

Popovici went 1:43.13 to win by 2.5 seconds. His splits:

• 23.83 – 26.25 – 26.71 – 26.34 – 1:43.13

The time is the fifth-fastest performance all-time. It’s the second-best in a textile suit, trailing only his 1:42.97. He slots in .01 ahead of Yannick Angel’s performance from the 2012 Olympics. Popovici now owns three of the top seven times all-time.

His time is the fastest in the world this year, beating Lukas Martens’ 1:44.14. That includes U.S. men’s trials, won by Luke Hobson in 1:44.89.

Danas Rapsys was the best of the rest in 1:45.65, continuing his strong swim. Switzerland’s Antonio Djakovic was third, just edging Niko Jankovic of Croatia.

 Women’s 200 breaststroke

Kristyna Horska added another outstanding swim for Czechia with a 2:23.60 to go wire-to-wire in the 200 breast. She was 1.60 seconds up on the field.

Silver went to Denmark’s Clara Rybak-Andersen in 2:25.20. She was tied with countrywoman Thea Blomsterberg at the 150-meter wall. But Blomsterberg faded to fourth, with Lisa Mamie of Switzerland grabbing bronze.

Women’s 100 backstroke semifinals

Roos Vanotterdijk is a busy woman. With just 20 minutes of rest, she set the pace in the 100 back. She went 1:00.42, a tenth up on Danielle Hill or Ireland.

Adela Piskorska of Poland was third, the only other swimmer under 1:01. Lottie Cullen got a second Irish swimmer in the A final.

Women’s 100 backstroke semifinals

Men’s 50 breaststroke semifinals

Women’s 50 freestyle semifinals

Men’s 200 butterfly semifinals

Women’s 200 individual medley semifinals

Men’s 50 backstroke

Women’s 1,500 freestyle

Mixed 400 freestyle relay