Romania’s Popovici, 17, sets world mark in 100 freestyle

David Popovici, 17, of Romania became the youngest swimmer to break the world swimming record in the men’s 100-meter freestyle Saturday in Rome, beating the mark set more than 13 years ago in the same pool.

Popovici touched in 46.86 seconds at the European championships to top the time of 46.91 set by Brazil’s César Cielo at the 2009 world championships, which also were held at Rome’s Foro Italico.

Cielo established his record on July 30, 2009, at the last major international meet to allow rubberized suits. It stood longer than any record in the event’s history, going back to 1905.

Now, it belongs to one of the sport’s budding stars.

“There was no rush, and I had to be extremely patient about the world record,” Popovici said. “It has hurt, but it’s always worth it, and I feel fine right now. It felt great and it’s very special to break this record which was set here in 2009 by César Cielo.”

Cielo still holds the record in the 50 free, which is among eight men’s longcourse standards that remain from the rubbersuit era. Five of those were set at those supercharged 2009 worlds.

Popovici went out in 22.74 and set the record by going 24.12 on the return lap to easily beat Hungarian butterfly specialist Kristóf Milák by 0.61.

“This was a brilliant race, a joy to swim next to David,” Milák said. “David is a fantastic swimmer, I think the same crazy genius of the freestyle that I am in the butterfly. It’s great that his name will hit the headlines for long, long years.”

Popovici’s emergence sets up a potentially huge showdown at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where American star Caeleb Dressel — winner of five gold medals at last summer’s

Tokyo Games — will come in as the reigning gold medalist in the 100 free.

MOTORSPORTS Smith earns his third Trucks win of season

Chandler Smith took the lead on pit road after the first stage and dominated the rest of the way to win at Richmond (Va.) Raceway, his third victory of the season in the NASCAR Truck Series.

• Bob Tasca III topped Funny Car qualifying for the second straight event in the NHRA Nationals at Heartland Motorsports Park in Topeka, Kan. Tasca’s Friday run of 3.930 seconds at 323.81 mph in a Ford Mustang held up for his ninth career No. 1 qualifier.

Mike Salinas took the No. 1 spot in Top Fuel, Greg Anderson in Pro Stock and Joey Gladstone in Pro Stock Motorcycle.

TENNIS Halep reaches title match in Toronto

Two-time champion Simona Halep of Romania advanced to the National Bank Open’s final, beating Jessica Pegula of the United States 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 in Toronto.

Halep will face Brazil’s Beatriz Haddad Maia, 6-4, 7-6 (7) winner over 14thseeded Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic in the night semifinal.

The 15th-seeded Halep won the tournament in Montreal in 2016 and 2018.

• Eighth-seeded Hubert Hurkacz of Poland beat fourth-seeded Casper Ruud of Norway 5-7, 6-3, 6-2 in the National Bank Open semifinals in Montreal.

Spain’s Pablo Carreno Busta defeated Britain’s Daniel Evans 7-5, 6-7 (9), 6-2 in the other semifinal.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL Notre Dame loses top receiver for season

Notre

Dame receiver

Avery Davis will miss the season after tearing a ligament in his right knee.

Notre Dame also announced sophomore quarterback Tyler Buchner will start the opener against Ohio State on Sept. 3.

The school said Davis, a senior and team captain who was penciled in to start at slot receiver for the Fighting Irish, was injured during Friday’s practice. Davis missed the final month of last season after tearing the ACL in his left knee, but was still third on the team in yards receiving with 386 on 27 catches.

HOCKEY U.S. blows out Austria at junior worlds

Wyatt Kaiser and Carter Mazur each scored twice and the United States beat winless Austria 7-0 to improve to 3-0 in group play in the world junior championship in Edmonton, Alberta.

Matt Coronato, Red Savage and Sasha Pastujov also scored for the defending champion Americans. Andrew Oke stopped 11 shots in the first two periods and Remington Keopple made four saves in the third.

The U.S. will finish Group B play today against Sweden.

Canada beat the Czech Republic 5-1 to improve to 3-0 in Group A.

• San Jose Sharks defenseman Nikolai Knyzhov will miss the first few months of the season with a torn right Achilles tendon.

General manager Mike Grier said Knyzhov got hurt while participating in off-ice training. Knyzhov had surgery Wednesday, and the Sharks estimate it’ll take about six months to recover.

Knyzhov, 24, missed all of last season with a groin injury and the Sharks were hoping to have him back healthy this year. He played 56 games in the 2020-21 season, recording two goals and eight assists.