It's three years since David Popovici popped a 1:43.21 World Junior record stunner to claim the first World 200m free title of his career in his last year as 'youth'.

Three years on, Paris gold in his vault for the past year, Popovici, still only 20, has his second 200m global crown, his time 1:43.53. His performance explained the manner in which the first Romanian man to claim Olympic gold in the pool has made himself the man to beat over four lengths since his breakthrough season.

The only time he led the race was when he caught and edged ahead of Olympic bronze medallist Luke Hobson with about 20 metres to go. The splits tell the tale of:

• one man biding his time, Popovici comfortable with his capacity to pounce just when needed
• a defending champion, Korea's Sunwoo Hwang, still trying to master 200m pace
• an the American, Hobson, storing up strategy on the long stretch to a Home Olympics
• and a Japanese teenager, Tatsuya Murasa, who swam his own race and found the podium turn of pace just when he needed it

Hobson made his big move down the third length, Popovici, half a second down at half-way, losing a further 0.14 to the last turn. And then, as Hobson felt the pace, Popovici out in a 26.43 home comer for victory, Hobson hanging on for silver in 1:43.84, Murasa grabbing bronze in a national record of 1:44.54 after passing Hwang with the second fastest last-length split. 26.66.

Coached by Adrian Radulescu, Popovici said:

“I think [the win feels] even better than the Olympics, to be honest. You know why? I trained a lot for the Olympics, but this coming (in) a year, a more relaxed year, more easy-going after the Olympics… I’m very proud of myself.”

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