(Reuters) -David Popovici said he builds mental walls around his lane to block out the competition and keep him focused on gold at the world championships after the Romanian added the 100 metres freestyle title to his 200 crown in Singapore on Thursday.
Popovici, who also won the 100 and 200 titles in Budapest in 2022, touched the wall in 46.51 seconds at the World Aquatics Championships Arena ahead of American Jack Alexy and Australian Kyle Chalmers.
"I think the one who wins is the one who can detach
themselves from their competitors," the 20-year-old said. "So I managed to build walls between each of my lanes and imagined I was swimming alone.
"Don't look at the others. Try not to think of what Kyle is doing. Try and not look to the left for what Jack is doing.
"I managed to focus on what I had to do. And I delivered."
Popovici said it was surreal to be competing beside Chalmers after watching the Australian on television at the Rio Olympics in 2016 when he won gold in the 100.
"I was telling Kyle just before in the call room how crazy I think it is that when I was a 12-year-old, I was looking to him at the Olympics," he told Australian broadcaster Nine Network in Singapore.
"I was 12, he was 18, winning gold at the Olympics. And so now being able to race with him for the same medals, it's just bonkers. And I'm really happy of how far I've come and we've come."
Chalmers, whose bronze was his 14th medal at the worlds, said he was gutted not to break the 47-second mark after finishing in 47.17 seconds.
"It's incredible how much this event has improved over the years, you knew it was going to be really tight and really fast," the 27-year-old said.
"I've been training hard for that moment, I desperately wanted to get a 46 out tonight but wasn't quite there. To get on the podium is so special and I'm just really excited to go home now and become a dad. That's my biggest priority this year."
(Reporting by Aadi Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Peter Rutherford)
