Gold medal winner David Popovici is a freestyle-focused competition swimmer from Romania. He has set the junior world record in the long course 200 metre freestyle as well as the world record in the 100 metre freestyle over the longer distance. Popovici won gold medals in his two hallmark events (the 100 and 200 metre freestyles) at the 2022 World Aquatics Championships, being the first swimmer to achieve so at the same World Championships since Jim Montgomery in 1973.

Popovici, the youngest member of the Romanian team, qualified for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics by swimming faster than the Olympic Qualifying Time in the Men’s 100-Meter Freestyle event at the 2020 European Aquatics Championships in Budapest, which were held from May 10 to May 23 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. During the competition, he broke the national record for Romania three times (in the heats, semifinal, and final), taking sixth place. Popovici also competed in the men’s 50- and 200-meter freestyles, finishing both races within the Olympic Selection Time.

Popovici was a Michael Phelps and Ian Thorpe fan growing up. He has said that he takes inspiration from Floyd Mayweather and emulates his training regimen. Popovici and Arena agreed to an endorsement agreement in December 2021. Popovici received the Order of the Star of Romania, the country’s highest civil honour, in July 2022 from President Klaus Iohannis.