RIO — It was one of the most anticipated swimming races of the Rio Olympics — and US star Lilly King backed up her fighting talk by defeating Yulia Efimova to win gold in the 100 meters breaststroke on Monday.
King had made plain her feelings at Efimova’s presence in Brazil after the Russian was cleared to compete at the 11th hour despite having previously been found guilty of doping.
The 19-year-old had chastised Efimova on Sunday after watching her rival wave her finger to signal she was No. 1 after winning her semifinal.
USA’s Lilly King wrapped in her national flag poses with her gold medal on the podium after she won the Women’s 100m Breaststroke Final during the swimming event at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Aquatics Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on August 8, 2016. / AFP / Odd Andersen (Photo credit should read ODD ANDERSEN/AFP/Getty Images)
King was far from impressed and told a reporter, “You’re shaking your finger No. 1, and you’ve been caught for drug cheating. I’m just not a fan. I’m going to go swim my heart out for USA and hopefully that turns out the best.”
King’s best was good enough to win the race in an Olympic record time of one minute 04.93 seconds, with US teammate Katie Meili taking bronze.
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – AUGUST 08: (L-R) Silver medalist Yulia Efimova of Russia, gold medal medallist Lilly King of the United States and bronze medallist Katie Meili of the United States pose on the podium during the medal ceremony for the Women’s 100m Breaststroke Final on Day 3 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Aquatics Stadium on August 8, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
“Tonight has been so crazy. My life is changing right now,” King told reporters. “I’m a gold medalist and it’s what I’ve always wanted to be — it’s an incredible feeling.
“I’m probably going to start crying. I’m usually not a crier but this is a special moment so we’ll see if it gets to me or not.”
Efimova, who won bronze at the London Games in 2012, was banned between October 2013 and February 2015 after testing positive for traces of the anabolic steroid DHEA.
“A week ago, I didn’t even know if I could race because I’m Russian. I’m just happy to be here,” the 24-year-old said, also fighting back tears.
Earlier this year, the 2015 world champion was given a provisional ban after testing positive for meldonium, but the International Swimming Federation lifted the suspension after advice from the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
She was reinstated to compete at the Games last Friday after the Court for the Arbitration of Sport ruled that athletes could not be banned from competing in Rio on the basis that they have been previously sanctioned.
That decision did not appear to wash with spectators, and Efimova and her fellow Russian swimmers have been subjected to boos and jeers by the crowds at the Aquatic Center.
But she was far from the only controversial athlete to attract attention on another dramatic night in the pool.
Sun shines
China’s Sun Yang claimed gold in the men’s 200m freestyle after edging out South Africa’s Chad le Clos in a thrilling contest.
At the weekend, Sun was involved in a spat with Australian swimmer Mack Horton — who was angry that his rival was competing despite serving a doping ban in secret in 2014, news of which was only announced in China retrospectively.
For Sun it marked a personal triumph after a controversial few years outside of the pool.
In 2013 he was detained by police for seven days after being involved in an accident while driving without a license.
At last year’s world championships, he was accused of assaulting a female Brazilian swimmer after an argument in the warmup pool.
Left in tears after losing out on 400m gold on Saturday, Sun roared back to win comfortably in a time of 1:44.65 to finish ahead of le Clos and US star Conor Dwyer.
Murphy magic
American swimmer Ryan Murphy set a new Olympic record to claim gold in the men’s 100m backstroke on Monday.
The 21-year-old from the University of California raced home in a time of 51.97 seconds.
Murphy’s success means the US has now won six consecutive gold medals in the event.
Teammate David Plummer was also in the medals — he took bronze, with China’s Xu Jiayu claiming silver.
Hosszu heroics
Hungary’s Katinka Hosszu powered to her second gold medal of the Games after winning the 100m backstroke.
Hosszu, the 400m individual medley winner, pipped America’s Kathleen Baker. The bronze medal was shared by Kylie Masse of Canada and China’s Fu Yuanhui — who finished in a dead heat.
The 27-year-old, who could conceivably add another three gold medals to her tally, had failed to win a medal in her three previous Olympics.
Phelps into final
Michael Phelps booked his place in the final of the men’s 200m butterfly final despite finishing second in his heat.
Phelps, who won his 19th Olympic gold on Sunday, was edged out by Hungary’s Tamas Kenderesi but was still the second fastest qualifier.
Fellow American Katie Ledecky will seek to add to her gold and silver so far in the women’s 200m freestyle after qualifying second behind Sweden’s Sarah Sjostrom — who has already won the 100m butterfly.
