Popa's first international title came in 2000 as a member of the Romania crew that won the C-4 1000m and C-4 500 m  gold medal at the European under-23 championship in Boulogne, France.
pˈoʊpəz fˈɜːst ˌɪntɚnˈæʃənəl tˈaɪɾəl kˈeɪm ɪn tˈuː θˈaʊzənd æz ɐ mˈɛmbɚɹ ʌvðə ɹoʊmˈeɪniə kɹˈuː ðæt wˈʌn ðə sˈiː fˈoːɹ wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈɛm ænd sˈiː fˈoːɹ fˈaɪvhˈʌndɹɪd ˈɛm ɡˈoʊld mˈɛdəl æt ðə jˌʊɹɹəpˈiən ˌʌndɚ twˈɛnti θɹˈiː tʃˈæmpiənʃˌɪp ɪn buːlˈoʊn, fɹˈæns.