Romanian swimming superchampion David Popovici has achieved another prestigious performance, winning the Olympic gold medal in the 200-meter freestyle. But it was by no means an easy race.
From the start, Germany’s Lukas Maertens took the lead, announcing his intention to finish first in the event. He looked unbeatable for almost three-quarters of the race (although David wasn’t far behind, the German always had a lead).
But towards the end there were several attacks, Maertens lost ground, and it was the American Luke Hobson who sprinted out of the turn and came within a whisker of victory.
Matthew Richards (Great Britain) tried to make the coup de grace. Still, David Popovici also attacked and, in an electrifying finish, managed to come first with a time of 1:44:72 (just two-hundredths of a second ahead of the Briton!)
The final podium order: 1. David Popovici (Romania), 2. Matthew Richards (Great Britain), 3. Luke Hobson (USA). Lukas Maertens finished fifth.
