Efimova to Test the Waters at LA Invite Prior to Competing in Rio

2016 Los Angeles Invitational

The University of Southern California’s Uytengsu Aquatic Center is bracing itself for 1000 swimmers competing in the 2016 version of the annual Los Angeles Invitational, beginning this Thursday and running through Sunday. One of the biggest names on the psych sheet is that of Russia’s Yuliya Efimova, who is expected to compete in her first meet since the lifting of her FINA ban for testing positive for the banned substance Meldonium earlier this year. Efimova is entered in the 100 breast, 200 breast, and 50 free.

Photo: Anne Lepesant

Photo: Anne Lepesant

Efimova is now 2nd in the world rankings for both the 100 breast (with 1:05.70, trailing Lilly King by .50) and the 200 breast (with 2:21.41, 1.8 seconds behind Rie Kaneto of Japan). While she has recently entered several meets that she ended up not swimming, Efimova is expected to show up at LAI given that she was recently affirmed to compete in Rio.

With 1000 competitors, the meet will be flighted on Friday and Saturday. In addition to the USC athletes for whom this is a “home meet”, LAI attracts swimmers from some of the bigger Southern California clubs (e.g., Irvine Novaquatics and Irvine Aquazots, Mission Viejo Nadadores, and Canyon Aquatics), Arizona clubs such as Tucson Ford, and clubs from San Diego, Northern California, and the East Coast, as a stop on their summer circuits leading up to Nationals/US Open.

The meet begins on Thursday with 200 free relay (M,W), prelims of women’s 800 free and men’s 1500 free, and 200 medley relay (M,W).

Friday’s events: W800 free final, 100 free (M,W), 200 fly (M,W), 200 back (M,W), W400 IM, and M400 free, 400 free relay (M,W).

Saturday’s events: M1500 free final, W200 IM, M200 free, 200 breast (M,W), 50 free, W400 free, M400 IM, 800 free relay.

Sunday’s events: 100 fly (M,W), W1500 free, 100 back (M,W), M800 free, 100 breast (M,W), W200 free, M200 IM, 400 medley relay (M,W).

Some of the other big names in the meet include: Vlad Morozov, Nikita Lobintsev, Alex Suhrokov, Long Guitierrez, Katrina Konopka, Katy Campbell, Cristian Quintero, Mike Alexandrov, Farida Osman, Katie McLaughlin, Nick Thorne, and Azad Al-barazi.

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yuliya warrior
7 years ago

wait… i just read the psych sheets… SHE IS NOT SWIMMING 100 breast?????? )-: and she is not swimming finals tonight even though she is top seed. can a swimswam person or referee/coach please tell me?

yuliya warrior
Reply to  yuliya warrior
7 years ago

confirm with me is what i meant.

Sven
7 years ago

I predict a 1:00.04 new WR

Sprintdude9000
Reply to  Sven
7 years ago

Haha exactly!!!

bobo gigi
7 years ago

Hypocrisy will always make me laugh. 😆

And looks like some trolls really have a boring life. It’s even scary.

G.I.N.A.
7 years ago

You guys are complegely missing something .With the now oroven negligence of the mormon lab Efimova can sue WADA big time . You don’t think her America lawyer iz not tabulating damages ? The settlement will be in the 7 figures .

emg1986
Reply to  G.I.N.A.
7 years ago

I’m not sure she will though, a civil case can open you up to scrutiny. I can’t imagine Efimova would want that too much of that now…..

G.I.N.A.
Reply to  emg1986
7 years ago

In a US court she can show that a DHEA positive is only 12 mths out or in the case of Hardy – anulled. Efimova served 16 mths. She can also show extraneous punitive measures as against thr 400 other meldonium re instated as of April. Yulia was held further because of the stupid mormon lab who gave her a false negatve
WADA on the other hand has no scientific papers to present as to meldonium.

SHM
7 years ago

Hopefully shes fully recovered from her injury monster swimmer when shes fully fit would be wonderful if she retain her crown and get that gold medal and rub in the face of FINA and Efimova

Coach Mike 1952
Reply to  SHM
7 years ago

You mean Ruta yes? Or Lilly King, or anyone else that could demolish Efimova for that matter, right?

Uberfan
7 years ago

Efimova to test the waters I see what you did there swimswam.

coacherik
Reply to  Uberfan
7 years ago

I hope this TEST has a real POSTIVE outcome!

…Ah? …Get it?!

Lane Four
Reply to  coacherik
7 years ago

Uberfan and CoachErik, you guys are smart and hilarious. I love the sarcasm with a wink. LOL

Peter
7 years ago

I usually don’t advocate such things, but PLEASE boo her. Its simply unjust to all her other competitors.

bobo gigi
Reply to  Peter
7 years ago

If so, please don’t forget to boo most of MLB and NFL players too. 🙂

King in da norf
Reply to  bobo gigi
7 years ago

When almost all players are doping, then is it so much as cheating?
MLB and NFL are public entertainment anyway (modern day gladiators show), not so much as sport.

Attila the Hunt
Reply to  bobo gigi
7 years ago

I did not forget to boo Camille Muffat in 2012

Captain Awesome
Reply to  Attila the Hunt
7 years ago

I don’t seem to remember Muffat being caught for doping, but either way, this is in poor taste.

Attila the Hunt
Reply to  Captain Awesome
7 years ago

Is the Bobo’s (passive aggressive) way better and in good taste?

“I just wonder how these swimmers like Hosszu, Seebohm or Larkin can swim best times or close to best times almost each time they swim.
Same questions about someone like Gatlin on track who can run times in the 100m about 9.80 every week from May to September.”

https://swimswam.com/mitch-larkin-breaks-world-record-in-200-backstroke-scm-race-video/#comment-386769

FYI,
Justin Gatlin has been banned twice for doping offenses
Katinka Hosszu has been accused for taking banned substances in a blog published by Swimming World.

Coach Mike 1952
Reply to  Attila the Hunt
7 years ago

I would not put much stock in the SW article. Some of us called them out on it big time.

Attila the Hunt
Reply to  Coach Mike 1952
7 years ago

You missed the point.
Bobo asked the same question about Hosszu, Larkin and Seebohm as he did Gatlin.

Do I really need to spell it out?

Lane Four
Reply to  Attila the Hunt
7 years ago

Not for me, but for others, yes.

swimmy
Reply to  Attila the Hunt
7 years ago

Michael Andrew does the same. It might be a different training style. Both Hosszu and Andrew also seem to race constantly so wondering if their training techniques have them always at peak levels versus the traditional heavy training and taper process?

Billy B.
Reply to  Attila the Hunt
7 years ago

A great athlete can perform great on the big stage. A doped athlete can perform at the same level all year if doping is done smart… taking their vitamins at the right levels and such.

I mean if Phelps and Lochte simply had similar Growth Hormone and Testosterone levels as their prime… we wouldn’t see them flailing to survive (very relatively of course) at the end of their taxing programs. For some perspective.

Look at Cross Fit. It is the posterchild for pushing athletes to REQUIRE doping just to compete at a high level… sad. I see guys at the gym who have clearly been ODing on stimulants and/or hormones now that I do lots of weights… their health goes… Read more »

JON SNOW
Reply to  bobo gigi
7 years ago

Bobo, have you never been to any sports game live? Everyone that’s been publicly caught on PEDs gets savagely boo’d.

Alec
Reply to  bobo gigi
7 years ago

The NFL actually suspends people for failing, as does the MLB, the UFC just pulled their beat fighter off their biggest card in history for a doping violation.

Unfortunately swimming is behind the curve.

5wimmer
Reply to  Peter
7 years ago

I think booing her is worse than the situation. It’s not really her fault that she’s back in and I think it would ruin the Olympic belief

Zika Ziki
Reply to  5wimmer
7 years ago

What do you mean by Olympic belief?
Is this Olympic belief also shared by Efimova and does she abide by it?

5wimmer
Reply to  Zika Ziki
7 years ago

Sportsmanship?

5wimmer
Reply to  5wimmer
7 years ago

Just a matter of respect as well. Booing her would be disgusting and steal limelight from other athletes.

Reply to  5wimmer
7 years ago

If she willingly took a banned substance and then appealed when she failed yet another doping test, then it is sort of her fault.

Lane Four
Reply to  Lauren Neidigh
7 years ago

Absolutely, Lauren.

yuliya4life
Reply to  Lauren Neidigh
5 years ago

tested too early she took it before it was banned

Big Time
Reply to  Peter
7 years ago

its time for the public to put some pressure on. The disrespect she and other cheats show to their competitors, the sport and the people who love to watch the best compete with the best is a kick in the teeth. Just picture her jumping on to the podium snatching the 1st place medal and pushing the girl who worked her butt off to the ground.

Why should she and others get away with it? My thoughts? When the finals are announced- cheer like crazy for the other 7 women and let’s hear *crickets*for her. Or turn your back.

Alec
7 years ago

I thought Salo said he wasn’t training her?

He’s got some ‘splainin to do!

Reply to  Alec
7 years ago

Alec – Dave Salo reiterated to us today that Efimova is still not training with him and Trojan Swim Club. She’s apparently in LA but has found a different place to train

Lane Four
Reply to  Jared Anderson
7 years ago

Where? Walgreens Pharmacy pool?

Irish Ringer
Reply to  Lane Four
7 years ago

Are the other Russian swimmers training with Salo?

Peter
Reply to  Irish Ringer
7 years ago

Morozov and Lobinstev I think

emg1986
Reply to  Lane Four
7 years ago

Does BALCO own a pool?

Billy B.
Reply to  emg1986
7 years ago

Pretty sure its over in the area. Its nicknamed the chemical pool of dreams.

yuliya4life
Reply to  Jared Anderson
5 years ago

she trains with her father at different pools that they have lanes open, sometimes long beach sometimes golden west. it all depends.

About Anne Lepesant

Anne Lepesant

Anne Lepesant is the mother of four daughters, all of whom swam in college. With an undergraduate degree from Princeton (where she was an all-Ivy tennis player) and an MBA from INSEAD, she worked for many years in the financial industry, both in France and the U.S. Anne is currently …

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