She was also asked about her thoughts on Justin Gatlin, a USA sprinter who has served two doping bans, and said, “Do I think someone who has been caught for doping should be on the team?” Efimova a part of the Russian contingent with systemic doping issues and has failed two drug tests herself in recent years. He also continued a streak of US dominance in the backstroke, which Americans have won in the past six summer Olympics. On national TV she explained what she was thinking – and she did it in no uncertain words.
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King, a 19-year-old student at Indiana University, is in her first Olympics. “But especially standing up for what I believe is right, I felt that I needed to perform and do better than I had in the past”.
“I won the case”, she said.
But in the end, the American was just too strong, taking the gold with a time of 1:04:93, just 0.57 seconds ahead of her Russian counterpart.
The pair exchanged angry glances before King told reporters she was not happy with the Russian being allowed to compete.
King didn’t just call Efimova out, she stared her down before the two took to the blocks for their race.
King made comments and gave a finger-wagging gesture towards Efimova after the women’s semi-final race on Sunday, suggesting that Efimova was questionable after previous doping bans. She had a fantastic swim. “I’m here to compete clean for the United States”. King said she never considered congratulating Efimova. She composed herself enough to attend the medal winner’s press conference but struggled to hold back tears as she was grilled about doping. Efimova came in second with a time of 1:05.50.
Other athletes backed King, with Ireland’s Fiona Doyle saying: “Cheaters are cheaters”.
Russian Federation took gold and silver in the women’s sabre fencing as Yana Egorian beat Sofiya Velikaya, who again suffered heartbreak after also losing the 2012 Olympic final.
“It makes you sick because you work so hard to get here and cheats are getting away with it”.
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Finger-wagging, boos from the crowds and fierce criticism from rival athletes greeted the first Russian medal-winners after the country escaped a blanket ban for state-sponsored cheating. “If someone likes it or dislikes it, if they have a different opinion then they just have to go in front of the Court of Arbitration”, she said.
