Rio Twitter Recap Day 2: Lilly King’s Finger Wag Lights Up Twitter

Day two was exhilarating, as three individual world records electrified Rio and the Twitterverse blew up with all of the fast swimming (and drama).

Of course, Michael Phelps and Katie Ledecky are the greatest swimmers in the world right now, and Twitter was lit up after Ledecky smashed her 400 free world record and Phelps’ delivered an incredible 47.12 split.

Perhaps the biggest moment that didn’t have to do with world records was Lilly King‘s finger wag to Yulia Efimova. In a new rivalry that alludes to a bigger picture of corruption and injustice in the sport of swimming, King’s finger wag on national television got people riled up on Twitter.

Check out some of the best tweets from today’s Olympic competition below:

https://twitter.com/mindykaling/status/762385600875868160

We’re impressed with Mindy’s swim knowledge.

https://twitter.com/ders808/status/762389977795858432

Bonus anchor. Yes.

https://twitter.com/Lesdoggg/status/762458590544171012

Swimming’s newest #1 fan is Leslie Jones, who was super thrilled with Conor Dwyer‘s 200 free semifinal win tonight.

https://twitter.com/GraceVertigans/status/762462171611602945

In what could be the most politically and emotionally charged events of these Games, Yulia Efimova won semifinal 1 of the women’s 100 breast. The Russian, who has been caught doping twice now, was booed after her swim, but Lilly King‘s reaction was iconic. Efimova put up her finger as if to signify her winning her heat, but King, as she watched the Russian on the TV before she herself swam a semifinal, wagged her finger at Efimova. Minutes later, she would swim .02 faster than Efimova and take the top seed going into finals.

https://twitter.com/CharlieHouchin/status/762464384694177792

https://twitter.com/ElvisVB/status/762464566395625473

Check below for footage of the finger wag:

https://twitter.com/tonyjbrony/status/762464650470432768

And, of course, the big-time American win in the 4×100 free relay was a big hit on Twitter.

https://twitter.com/Lesdoggg/status/762484964864634881

https://twitter.com/BleacherReport/status/762490026718474241

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Jenevra
8 years ago

Lily King loooooooooooose!

Breaststroker13
8 years ago

Leslie Jones is probably in my top 5 favorite people to ever exist. And now she likes swimming too #leslieforpresident

NornIron Swim
8 years ago

Someone needs to find / make a meme for Manaudou’s terrible attitude to the French silver in the 4×1. The face on him!

ERVINFORTHEWIN
Reply to  NornIron Swim
8 years ago

He is a Big Mouth on top of a Big body building structure to me – not surprised by his attitude . They though they would smash the Usa but they got smashed instead . He can’t swallow the sour pill .

Taa
8 years ago

She is holding up the wrong finger though.

Breaststroker13
Reply to  Taa
8 years ago

HAHAHAHA! That’s great lol

Swimmergurl1988
8 years ago

I hope the entire heat destroys her and she finishes eighth!

Attila the Hunt
8 years ago

Lilly King’s reaction is definitely an iconic moment in swimming history.

I hope she destroy the cheater tomorrow.

About Karl Ortegon

Karl Ortegon

Karl Ortegon studied sociology at Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT, graduating in May of 2018. He began swimming on a club team in first grade and swam four years for Wesleyan.

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