A year earlier, at the European LC Championships 1999 in Istanbul, he won his first medal: a silver one at the 1500 m freestyle. He also won the bronze medal at the 2003 World Championships in Barcelona, in the 400 m freestyle, only being surpassed by Thorpe and Hackett. He is Romania's top swimmer in the 400 and 1500 m freestyle races, winning European Junior gold medals, and several medals in European and world championships. Also he is titleholder in both 400 and 1500 m freestyle, at the World Military Games, winning medals at every edition.