Romanian swimmer David Popovici, an Olympic, world and European champion, qualified for the semi-finals of the men's 100m freestyle with the fastest time in the heats, 47.13 seconds, at the European Swimming Championships in Paris on Tuesday.

Croatia's Jere Hribar recorded the second-fastest time in the heats, 47.80 seconds.

The semi-finals will take place on Tuesday evening, while the final is scheduled for Wednesday evening.

Romania is competing with 11 swimmers at the European Championships: David Popovici (100m and 200m freestyle), Eric Andries (100m, 200m and 400m freestyle), Robert Badea (200m butterfly, 200m and 400m individual medley), Darius Coman (100m and 200m breaststroke, 200m individual medley), Alexandru Constantinescu (50m, 100m and 200m backstroke), Patrick Sebastian Dinu (50m and 100m freestyle), Tudor Andrei Iordache (50m, 100m and 200m backstroke), Vlad Mihalache (50m and 100m butterfly), Denis Popescu (50m and 100m backstroke, 50m and 100m butterfly), Andrei Proca (800m and 1,500m freestyle), and Matei-Cristian State (200m breaststroke, 200m and 400m individual medley).

The coaching staff comprises Adrian Radulescu, Bogdan Stroe, Iulia Becheru, Viorel Ciobanu, Mircea Purcaru and Gabriel Cojocaru, while physiotherapists are Valentin Grigoras and Dragos Luscan. The delegation is headed by FRNPM president Camelia Potec and also includes federal coach Silviu Anastase and secretary general Matei Giurcaneanu. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Mihai Tenea; EN - writing by: Cristina Zaharia)

Display count: 778