Pop took up fencing at CSS Satu Mare when he was seven years old to follow the steps of a girl he was in love with. He was coached first in foil by Eva Lenghel, then in épée by Alexandru Csipler, one of the founders of the Satmarean school of fencing. He won his first national title in épée, in the junior category, when he was 15 years old. He took the fourth place in the 1986 Junior World Championship in Stuttgart and earned his first senior Romanian Cup at the age of 17. This good results cause him to be selected into the senior national team, with which he took part in the 1987 World Championships in Sofia. Pop qualified for the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona. He was defeated by Brazil's Roberto Lazzarini in the second round and finished 25th. In the team event Romania ranked 11th.