Romanian swimmer David Popovici, who won gold in the 100m and 200m freestyle at the European Aquatics Championships in Paris, said on Monday upon returning to Romania that the authorities must show responsibility and pay the bonuses owed to Romanian athletes for their achievements.

'I believe this is a responsibility that the Romanian state needs to take seriously. I am fortunate enough, and I am grateful to my years-long sponsors who have supported me throughout this journey. I know Romanian world-class athletes who don't enjoy the same conditions that I have now. This is a situation that cannot simply be commented on. There is this feeling of identification. We have all won, but many of the bonuses the athletes are waiting for could change their lives for the better. This is how thing are in the country. I will take every opportunity to bring up this issue. How long can these athletes be expected to wait?,' Popovici said upon arriving at Henri Coanda Airport in Otopeni.

'Whenever I have the opportunity, I will say that I did not have the best conditions. Yet somehow, I managed. When I think about the next generations, the role of infrastructure needs to be taken seriously and addressed as much as possible. Also for the sake of our education as a society,' added the Olympic, world and European champion.

Several Romanian athletes who finished on the podium at European and world championships have complained in recent months that they have not received their due achievement bonuses for their accomplishments over the past two years.

Asked what advice he would give his younger self, Popovici said he would not change anything: 'If I could talk to myself as a child, I would tell young David not to change a single thing, to go through all the difficult moments in exactly the same way. I would tell myself that everything would be all right, that everything would fall into place. I have learned to enjoy success, and I want to tell you something interesting. In an older interview with Kobe Bryant, someone asked him whether he loved winning more or hated losing more. And his answer was very interesting. He said neither. He wasn't particularly interested in either. He was neutral. He played because he wanted to figure out certain things and aspects of his life. I swim more to discover myself and push myself further, rather than for success or titles.'

Popovici denied that Russian swimmer Egor Kornev had invited him to Russia to train together, while also diplomatically declining to say how he would respond to such an invitation.

David Popovici has become the first swimmer to complete the 100m-200m freestyle double at three consecutive editions of the European Championships — Rome 2022, Belgrade 2024 and Paris 2026. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Mihai Tenea; EN - writing by: Simona Klodnischi)