American swimmer Lilly King, 19, had a crystal clear message for Russian Federation after winning a gold medal at the Rio Olympics Monday evening.
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After giving Efimova a finger wag as she watched her Russian counterpart celebrate her heat victory, King became an overnight sensation as a precocious young swimmer eager to take a stand against doping in her sport. King finished more than a half-second ahead of Efimova, who was booed before the final.
Then, following Monday’s record-setting performance, King said the gold medal sent a statement.
Finishing first in the women’s 100m breaststroke on Monday, King did not congratulate Efimova but hugged fellow American swimmer Katie Meili, who won bronze. When asked, she said US athletes who have been guilty of doping in the past should not be allowed on the team, including US sprinters Justin Gatlin and Tyson Gay, USA Today reported.
She added: “Do I think somebody who has been caught doping should be on the team? So if she was wishing to be congratulated, I apologise”, King told reporters.
After testing positive for meldonium this year Efimova has been banned and reinstated twice in a convoluted case that saw her allowed into the Rio Games at the last minute along with six other Russian swimmers who had either tested positive in the past or been named in the damning report on state-sponsored doping in Russia.
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Although her stance against her American teammates has not been as universally loved, King is the breakout star of these Olympics and at only 19 years old, should be in the spotlight for many years to come.
