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Teen sensation David Popovici stuns swimming with recordbreaking 100m freestyle at European Championships, video

Teen sensation David Popovici stuns swimming with recordbreaking 100m freestyle at European Championships, video

World swimming has another bona fide superstar on its hands.

Teenage sensation David Popovici continued his breakout season at the European Swimming Championships on Saturday (AEST), posting a sizzling time in the 100m freestyle semi-finals.

The 17-year-old touched the wall in 46.98 seconds, setting a new European record and breaking his own world junior record.

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He won his heat easily, finishing over a second ahead of Italian Lorenzo Zazzeri, while only two other swimmers, Kristof Milak and Alessandro Miressi, managed to go under 48 seconds.

Popovici became just the fourth swimmer ever to dip under the 47-second barrier, after world record holder Cesar Cielo (46.91), Alain Bernard (46.94) and Caeleb Dressel (46.96).

Bernard is still the fastest European ever but his time was not ratified by FINA in 2009 because it was swam in a non-approved suit.

Swimming fans were blown away by Popovici’s scintillating effort in Rome.

The Romanian, who goes by @chlorinedaddy on Instagram, is expected to threaten the world record again in the final, which he goes into as the raging favourite.

“It’s a fine route to the final and a step towards the right direction,” an understated Popovici said after the semi-final.

“It feels normal for me to go step-by-step and keep improving my time.”

Popovici has taken the swimming world by storm since emerging onto the scene with solid results at last year’s Tokyo Olympics.

And in June, he became the first man to win the 100m and 200m freestyle double at the World Championships in nearly 50 years.

He dominated the 200m freestyle final and claimed gold in the 100m final in the absence of Kyle Chalmers and Dressel.

Earlier this year he also won three European junior titles in his home town of Bucharest.

In other events, Italian world champion Nicolo Martinenghi won the 100m breaststroke.

Martinenghi was a double gold winner at the Budapest worlds and got the home crowd roaring in Rome with a time of 58.26sec in his final, beating countryman Federico Poggio by 0.72sec.

Andrius Sidlauskas took the bronze for Lithuania.

Margherita Panziera won the 200m backstroke, Thomas Ceccon claimed the honors in the 50m butterfly and Simona Quadarella won European gold in the 800m freestyle for the third straight time.

With AFP

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England defeat Australia 17-16 in men’s 3×3 basketball while wheelchair teams bring home gold and bronze

Myles Hesson of England celebrates with a teammate who tugs at his England singlet

Breathless. Absolutely breathless.

That’s how everyone was left feeling after one of the best advertisements you could see for 3×3 basketball.

It was the type of finish that keeps your heart racing long after the full-time siren has gone.

England’s men rode an incredible wave of home crowd support to beat Australia in overtime, 17-16.

Australia’s men claim wheelchair basketball gold

The four gold medal matches played out in fast and furious fashion at Smithfield, and Australia’s 3×3 men’s wheelchair basketball team started off with a tense match against Canada.

Lachlin Dalton and Jake Kavanagh of Australia celebrate. Both are pictured in their wheelchairs, Dalton with his arms in the air
Lachlin Dalton (left) was again on form to help Australia to an 11-9 win.(Getty Images: Justin Setterfield)

A day after shooting a two-pointer in overtime to beat England in the semis, youngster Lachlin Dalton was again on form to help the Australians to an 11-9 win.

“It’s been a bit surreal coming out playing well for the country and just to help be part of a gold medal, the first of its kind, there’s just something special,” Dalton said.

“To come out and play like we did, have the camaraderie that we did all week, it’s definitely been my favorite week away.”

‘I am Birmingham’: Local hero leads physical fight

In the men’s decider, it was a street ball shootout of the highest quality.

After an intense, physical showdown, where both sides racked up the fouls, it went to overtime where the first team to score two points would win.

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After Australia scored first, Birmingham’s own Myles Hesson got himself in two-point range, and swoosh, the capacity crowd exploded.

“I have played basketball in every corner of Birmingham,” Hesson said.

“This is where I used to catch the bus, just here. This is where I went to the markets with my gran. I am from Birmingham. I am Birmingham.”

“I don’t know how they all got tickets, but there are a lot of people in this stadium rooting for me. I could hear every last one of them.”

Australia’s Greg Hire, meanwhile, said he was proud of the way the Australian team had fought out the match.

“To go down in a game winning shot to a super talented side in front of the home crowd, I’m immensely proud,” Hire said.

“But [it’s a] pretty tough feeling right now.”

“It’s just a privilege to play in front of a crowd like that,” Jesse Wagstaff added.

“Birmingham’s done a great job of putting on a fantastic show.”

Hire played the match with a torn groin and was the ultimate street-fighter, scrapping and jostling, and attracting plenty of attention from the referees — Australia ended up with 11 team fouls and England nine.

Greg Hire appeals to the umpire after landing on Jaydon Kayne Henry-Mccalla of England
Greg Hire says he will retire from international competition, and wants to see more investment in 3×3 basketball. (AAP Photos: Darren England)

“That’s the reason why we love it right? It’s not traditional five and five, and it’s tough,” Hire said.

“Obviously the refs swallowed their whistle towards the end of the game, which is a shame, but that’s the style, that’s 3×3 basketball. I think that’s why it’s a sport that as you can see, everyone loves.”

After making its debut at last year’s Tokyo Olympics, Hire, one of Australia’s most experienced players in the short format, says he’s retiring from international competition, and wants to see more investment in it.

“We don’t get paid to play 3×3, we don’t get per diem like the Boomers. You’re doing for the love of the game and for the love of the country,” he said.

“What we’re seeing is the first step. In the past, and don’t disrespect the players that played before us, but it’s guys that specialize in 3×3.

“We need to put some respect, raise the profile. Hopefully those NBL guys that aren’t in the Boomers will play for us.”

Women’s teams win minor medals

The women’s wheelchair team couldn’t bring its best against Canada, going down 14-5.

Georgia Inglis of Australia tries to block a shot from Elodie Tessier of Canada in the wheelchair basketball
Australia’s women beat New Zealand 15-13 to win the wheelchair bronze.(Getty Images: Justin Setterfield)

“A silver medal is a bit bittersweet, but I’m so proud of our girls,” Australia’s Ella Sabljak said.

“We’ve come from literally nothing, we’ve had no expectations, and that was probably our worst game we played the entire tournament, so I know we’re better than that.”

Australia’s women beat New Zealand 15-13 to win the bronze medal, and Canada’s women downed England 14-13 to claim gold.

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