Lilly King protected the American throne and won the latest Cold War when she brought home the gold Monday night, beating Russian swimmer Yulia Efimova in the 100-meter breaststroke.
Advertisement
King finished more than a half-second ahead of Efimova, who was booed before the final.
King took umbrage at Efimova’s No. 1 finger wag during the semifinals, and her dislike of Efimova was evident at the pool Monday night.
Efimova also compared her mistakes – she also tested positive for meldonium earlier this year, but was allowed to compete in these games because the drug is newly banned by the WADA and could have still been in her system – to a misdemeanor. “I’m just not a fan”, King said after wagging her own finger at Efimova’s celebratory gesture.
Later, in a press conference with Yefimova next to her, King again took a jab, saying, “It was so incredible, winning a gold medal and knowing I did it clean”.
United States swimmer Lilly King, whether the 19-year-old meant to or not, is spearheading the anti-doping contingency at the Olympics. The country has claimed every gold in men’s 100-meter backstroke since Jeff Rouse got the silver after Canada’s Mark Tewksbury in 1992. Neither did another swimmer who has won more Olympic medals than anyone while competing clean.
The International Swimming Federation lifted her provisional suspension on advice from the World Anti-Doping Agency. No, do I think people who have been caught for doping offenses should be on the team?
“I really don’t know how I even reached the final”, Efimova said, her face red from crying. “We’re also very much looking forward to the medley relay … when she swims with her teammates and proudly wears the stars and stripes on her cap”.
She added: “Do I think somebody who has been caught doping should be on the team?”
She was subsequently cleared to compete by FINA and the Court of Arbitration for Sport. But King did just that, then didn’t back down and did not try to hide her ill feelings toward Efimova, one of the central figures in the Russian doping scandal.
“I’m actually glad I made a statement and I ended up coming out on top in the race”, King said.
King later reportedly apologized to her Russian rival, according to TASS.
“A lot of people have said a lot of things about her”, Mitkova told USA Today.
Advertisement
Efimova tested positive for steroids in 2013 and was subsequently banned for 16 months. “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”.
