While the Russian team drew a ton of news in the lead up to the Olympics, it’s interesting that a fellow athlete would be so outspoken against one of her own. Yes, Lilly King is quite a swimmer.
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But the real test came last night in the race for the gold medal. Her top rival, Russian Yulia Efimova, finished second at 1:05.50.
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.
King could hardly contain her satisfaction at capturing gold in the 100-meter breaststroke. “I can’t say that I’m happy, it’s just good that I was able to compete”, she said.
After completing a round of television interviews the Russian wept uncontrollably when she saw agent Anna Mitkova across a barrier in the media interview area.
King later gave Efimova a quick pat on the shoulder, nothing more.
People were shocked by King’s bravado, but as she revealed, “That’s just my personality. For me it was very hard to swim today, and this is three weeks it’s been like insane”, she said. After a silver medal, the Russian swimmer wants everyone to understand that her doping has a reasonable explanation, and that she’s stung by her vilification.
Yet her situation was complicated further earlier this year when Efimova was given a provisional ban after testing positive for meldonium.
Lilly King won fair and square, and she’s not going to let you forget it.
King didn’t think that was right.
Swedish swimmer Jennie Johansson, who did not make the final, shared her anger at Efimova in an Instagram post.
United States swimming great Michael Phelps added his considerable voice to the issue on Tuesday. He has had the same kind of doubts. “I think something needs to be done”, said Phelps. I think it’s time to pull FX in for a comment!
King has become a cult figure in the US, where her battle with Efimova was portrayed as the latest in a line of US-Russia “grudge matches”. Her teammate Katie Meili won third at 1:05.69.
“If she was wishing to be congratulated I apologize”. While the Russian track and field team was banned from the games, most of the country’s other athletes were allowed to attend, including some who have had positive doping tests.
But King’s criticism wasn’t just reserved for her worldwide opponents. During a press conference the week before, Michael Phelps, who is the most decorated Olympian of all time with 23 medals, shared his disappointment with the prevalence of doping at the games. “I’m not this sweet little girl, that’s not who I am”. “It should be set in stone. There should not be any bouncing back and forth”.
Simple words, spoken from the heart.
Kirsty Coventry of Zimbabwe, a seven-time Olympic swimming medalist competing in Rio, serves on the International Olympic Committee’s athletes’ commission.
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And that’s something to wag a finger about.
