The 2026 edition of Popovici's 'Sprint with the Stars' was a thrilling swimming event that took place at the Otopeni Swimming Complex in Romania on January 17, 2026. Olympic champion David Popovici hosted this annual meet, offering age-group swimmers a unique opportunity to race against some of the world's best. The event featured a unique format where the nine fastest swimmers in each age group progressed through heats to the Showcase Finals, with a 'Star' swimmer chasing them down after an age-related head start. Here's a breakdown of the results:
Women's 50m Backstroke:
- 24-year-old Lauren Cox dominated the race, finishing in 32.24, with 16-year-old Maria Mihaltean in second place at 32.90.
Men's 50m Backstroke:
- Alexandru Constantinescu, aged 19, claimed victory with a time of 26.04, leaving 16-year-old Vlad Inoscu in second place at 27.54.
Women's 50m Butterfly:
- World champion Angelina Köhler secured the gold medal with a time of 29.50, outperforming 15-year-old Larisa Tirila, who finished in 29.69 for silver.
Men's 50m Butterfly:
- Diogo Ribeiro, a 21-year-old national record holder, won the men's event with a top result of 24.60, followed by Stefan Cozma in second at 25.27.
Women's 50m Breaststroke:
- Daria Asaftei, aged 16, set a new personal best of 32.40, beating the 'Star' Veera Kivirnita of Finland, who finished in 33.02 after Asaftei's head start.
Men's 50m Breaststroke:
- Kirei Barna, a 14-year-old from the host nation, emerged victorious with a time of 33.53.
Women's 50m Freestyle:
- 16-year-old Theodora Maria Dumitru achieved a new personal best of 26.22 to claim gold, outperforming teammate Larisa Tirila (28.18) and Angelina Köhler (28.27).
Men's 50m Freestyle:
- All eyes were on David Popovici, but the 21-year-old superstar finished in 6th place at 24.67. Alexandru Constantinescu took the top spot with a time of 23.32, followed by Cristian Lapadat (23.99) and David Zarnjanu (24.21).
Meet the Star: Apostolos Christou
- Apostolos Christou, an Olympic medalist from Greece, touched in 5th place at 28.09 after the other swimmers' head starts, showcasing his exceptional talent.
This event highlighted the incredible talent of the next generation of swimmers, with some surprising results and a star-studded lineup. The 'Sprint with the Stars' continues to be a highly anticipated meet, offering a unique blend of competition and entertainment.
