After winning her women’s 100-meter breaststroke semifinal, Russian swimmer Yulia Efimova
held up a single finger in the universal “No. 1” sign. That didn’t sit
too well with her rival Lilly King of the United States; television
cameras caught King waving a dismissive, Dikembe Mutombo-esque finger at
the image of Efimova on the locker room TV.
King, a swimmer who attends Indiana University,
proceeded to own the second semifinal with a winning time of 1:05.70.
Afterward, she explained her move, and left no doubt whatsoever about
what she thought of Efimova’s attitude.
Russia’s Yulia Efimova celebrates winning a semifinal of the women’s 100-meter breaststroke. (AP)
“You’re shaking your finger, No. 1, and you’ve been caught for drug cheating,” King said, addressing Efimova in absentia. “I’m not a fan. I’m just going to go swim harder for the USA, and hopefully it turns out for the best.”
Efimova was one of seven Russian swimmers who had been banned from Rio several weeks ago; she was reinstated just before the start of the Games. She had previously served a 16-month suspension for doping. Efimova had failed a test for the newly-banned substance meldonium, the same substance found in samples from tennis star Maria Sharapova, though Efimova’s test was overturned on appeal.
Efimova swam her preliminary event with the sounds of boos from the Rio Olympic Aquatics Stadium all around her Sunday night.
The 100-meter breaststroke final, featuring the showdown between King and Efimova, is scheduled for Monday night.
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