Swimmer David Popovici, double European champion (100 and 200 m freestyle), qualified Thursday in the final of the 100 m freestyle event at the Mare Nostrum competition in Barcelona with the fifth fastest time of the heats.

Popovici, timed in 49sec20/100, was outrun among others by France’s Florent Manaudou (48sec78/100), South Korea’s Sunwoo Hwang (49sec11/100), the 200m freestyle world champion, and Italy’s Thomas Ceccon (49sec15/100).

Patrick-Sebastian Dinu, 11th in the heats with 49sec71/100, also reached the 100m final.

This year, David Popovici set the best time in the 100m freestyle at the Otopeni National Championships (18-21 April), when he won the national title with 47sec86/100.

The 100m freestyle final takes place on Thursday evening.

Popovici is preparing for the European Swimming Championships in Belgrade (10-23 June), where he will defend the 100m and 200m freestyle titles.

AGERPRES