Zoomers from Central and Eastern Europe at the 2024 Paris Olympics
David Popovici of Romania won Olympic gold in the 200m freestyle. He is among numerous Generation Z athletes from Central and Eastern Europe competing at the Paris Games.
The Olympic Games bring together athletes of all nationalities and a wide age range. At the Paris Olympics, the youngest competitor, Haohao Zheng of China, was just 11 years and 11 months old when she began competing in skateboarding. In contrast, this year's oldest competitor is 65-year-old Spaniard Juan Antonio Jimenez Cobo, participating in equestrian events.
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David Popovici of Romania: Olympic champion in swimming
Generation Z, comprising people born between 1997 and 2012, has a strong representation at the Paris Olympics. Competitors from Central and Eastern Europe in this age group are performing exceptionally well. One of the standout stars is 19-year-old swimmer David Popovici from Romania. At the Paris Olympics, he won gold in the 200m freestyle and bronze in the 100m freestyle.
Born in Bucharest on September 15, 2004, Popovici is Romaniaâs first Olympic swimming champion. As reported by stirilepro.tv, he reflected on his success: "I made my inner child happy. He dreamed of reaching the Olympic Games and maybe even winning a gold medal. I made him really happy."
Zoomers from Central and Eastern Europe at the Paris Olympics
The most prominent representative of the Polish Zoomers in Paris is 23-year-old tennis player Iga Swiatek. Joining her is the youngest national team member, 17-year-old relay runner Anastasia Kus, who recently became the European under-18 champion in the 400m run on July 20. The 4x400m relay runners will commence their competition on August 9.
August 9 also marks the beginning of competition in the only new discipline at this year's Gamesâbreaking. Seventeen-year-old Lithuanian Dominika Banevic, known as b-girl Nicka, has openly stated her goal to win her first Olympic gold in this event. Banevic, who won the European championships in 2023 in Nowy SÄ cz and became world champion in Leuven, Belgium, is determined to make history.
Also competing for a medal is 26-year-old Yuliana Yaneva from Bulgaria, a titled wrestler and the 2023 European champion. In 2020, she won a gold medal at the world championships. For Yaneva, the Paris Games mark her Olympic debut, and she will begin her competition on August 10. Outside of sports, Yaneva is interested in fashion and frequently showcases her androgynous streetwear style on social media.
On August 3, 17-year-old Jana Pavalic from Croatia will compete in the 50m freestyle event. Diagnosed with scoliosis at the age of nine, she took up swimming as a recommended treatment for her spinal condition. Pavalic qualified for the Olympic race by breaking the national record with a time of 24.67 seconds during the semifinals of the European Championships in Belgrade in June 2024.
Older Eastern Europeans sometimes judge Generation Z as lazy, unmotivated, or demanding. However, the above examples highlight just a few of the many Zoomers who have worked diligently for years to achieve their sporting dreams.
