Lilly King stole the spotlight Sunday night in the semifinals of the 100-meter breaststroke at the 2016 Olympic Games for Team USA. After Russian swimmer Yulia Efimova won her heat in the semis, she waved her finger in the air noting that she was No. 1.
King didn’t take too kindly to that.
The American responded by winning her heat, with a faster time than Efimova, and then took down the Russian Monday night in the finals, claiming gold and a new Olympic record.
With a time of 1:04.93 King out-touched Efimova by 0.57 seconds notching the 37th Olympic gold medal in IU swimming history. In other words, King is now No. 1.
The 19-year-old Evansville, Indiana, native was very outspoken after the semifinals after Efimova had failed numerous drug tests but was still eligible to race in Rio. But on Monday night, it was King on top of the podium.
King adds an Olympic gold in the 100 breast to an already impressive list of accomplishments this season. She captured the Big Ten, NCAA and USA Olympic trial title all in the event while being named Big Ten swimmer of the year. The Hoosier will also compete in the 200-meter breaststroke and the 4x100 medley for team USA this week.
Following the gold medal, King joins fellow Hoosier swimmers Cody Miller and Blake Pieroni to earn a top three finish in the pool in Rio. Swimming in her first Olympics King can only hope to improve on her accomplishments with three years of eligibility left at IU.
Zain Pyarali
