2016 RIO OLYMPIC GAMES
- Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Swimming: August 6-13
- Olympic Aquatics Stadium, Barra Olympic Park, Rio de Janeiro
- Prelims – 9:00 a.m/12:00 p.m PST/EST (1:00 p.m local), Finals – 6:00 p.m/9:00 p.m PST/EST (10:00 p.m local)
- SwimSwam previewsÂ
- Day 1 Schedule & Results
- Live Stream (NBC)
After Yuliya Efimova won the first semi-final of the 100 breast, she wagged her finger signalling “number one” as the heat winner. Not impressed by this gesture, Lilly King, watching while preparing for the second semi, mockingly waved her finger, as if to say ‘not so fast’.
King went onto win her semi in 1:05.70, 0.02 faster than Efimova’s 1:05.72 in the first semi. When question about her gesture post race by an NBC reporter, King responded “you wave your finger number one and you’ve been caught drug cheating…I’m not a fan”.Â
OH SNAP! Lilly King explains the finger waving towards Russian swimmer Yulia Efimova. pic.twitter.com/aLrkhSkNuG
— ⓂarcusD (@_MarcusD_) August 8, 2016
Efimova has had two different doping infractions in her career, and was cleared to compete in Rio just yesterday.
That makes both King and 2012 gold medallist Ruta Meilutyte two of the people who have called out Efimova, as Meilutyte did so on twitter when Efimova was originally announced to compete. FINA’s decision on the matter went back and forth for a while.
The final sets up to be an emotional affair tomorrow night, with Efimova set to swim in lane 5 between King in 4 and Meilutyte in 6. Meilutyte doesn’t appear to be on her best form, qualifying 4th in 1:06.44, so King looks to have the best shot at Efimova in the final.
This is the kind of stuff that swimming needs more of (rivalry and exciting taunting, not doping).
Tomorrow night’s final should be incredible.
Lilly King to Yuliya Efimova: “You tried it!”
You can say what you will about Yulia, but she is mentally tough to go through what she has and still be on top of her game.
I think everyone that misses out on the podium often in the breaststroke events are more mentally tough because they keep going when they know someone who has cheated continues to be permitted to compete and take away their rightful medals.
Sure, if I’d trained for years with PED and is enjoying the benefits, I’d be mentally tough too.
Yeah you can get through anything in life by cheating.
Yes!! The Mutombo finger wag!!! It would be a great Geico commercial if she pulls it off.
http://youtu.be/RtXtOuxBuvQ
Mutumbo!! LOL!!
Sun Yang is now demanding an apology from Lilly King on behalf of fellow drug cheat Yulia Efimova. Says Yang, “She got caught doping twice and has proven herself to be clean now. Lilly did not treat Yulia with the respect that she deserves and we cannot tolerate that anymore in the spirit of the Olympics.”
I am a huge fan of King, Lilly is a great champion with a bright future. She is better than mimicking another athletes showboat gesture and then commenting about her being a “cheater”. There are cameras everywhere and NBC loves controversy at the expense of naivety.
I agree 100% Beating her in the pool is the best answer…
No this is the exact reason why people are still doping. Because no one says anything. What Mack and Lily have done is amazing. Clean athletes need to start speaking out against convicted dopers. Everyone should be speaking out against convicted dopers for that matter… I don’t understand the drug cheat sympathisers
100% agreed with Attila!
Love your name by the way!
Sorry it’s Attilly! 😀
Especially coming from someone who hasn’t accomplished anything on the Olympic stage yet.
I don’t think that has much to do with this. It’s about keeping the sport clean.
Good! Glad there are cameras everywhere. Not only is Efimova a cheater, she games the system. If the governing bodies won’t do anything the athletes need to step up if they really want a clean sport.
Get caught doping one time and it should be a lifetime ban. FINA needs to grow a pair to keep athletics fair for everyone
If thats the way you feel, then Phelps should be gone! No one booed him!
Go King!! And Meili!
I love this girl!! You go King!!
More capable than Ruta to take down our queen.