King tops Efimova in breaststroke feud
RIO DE JANEIRO — After all the bad blood, all the debate over Yulia Efimova being allowed to swim at the Olympics, Lilly King was the one wearing gold.
The American won the 100-meter breaststroke Monday night, holding off the reigning world champion from Russia in what some will call a victory of clean athletes over the dopers.
Efimova arrived in Rio as one of the symbols of the massive Russian doping scandal, an athlete who had served a 16-month suspension and tested positive again this year for the nowbanned substance meldonium.
Efimova was initially banned from the Olympics, but that decision was overturned on appeal. King took umbrage at Efimova’s finger wag during the semifinals and said she intended “to compete clean for the U.S.”
After staring down Efimova in the ready room and giving her a look of disdain on deck, King led all the way to take the gold with a time of 1 minute, 4.93 seconds.
Efimova, who heard a round of boos and a few cheers during the introductions, settled for the silver in 1:05.50. The bronze went to American Katie Meili.
King didn’t acknowledge Efimova during a raucous victory celebration. Finally, as the two were picking up their credentials at the side of the deck, King gave her rival a pat on the shoulder.
“It just proves you can compete clean and still come out on top with all the hard work you put in behind the scenes, behind the meet, at practice and weight sessions,” King said. “There is a way to become the best and do it the right way.”
King’s victory was part of another big night for the Americans, who also extended their domination in the men’s 100 backstroke with Ryan Murphy’s victory and picked up six medals in all.
And Michael Phelps set his sights on a 20th gold medal by posting the second-fastest time in the semifinals of the 200-meter butterfly.
Phelps went out strong and then backed off in the final 50 to save his energy for Tuesday’s final.
Hungary’s Tamas Kenderesi surged to the wall first in 1 minute, 53.96 seconds.
Phelps was next at 1:54.12, followed by Hungary’s Laszlo Cseh and South African Chad le Clos, the defending Olympic champion.
Four years ago, Le Clos pulled off one of the greatest Olympic upsets when he beat Phelps, who had the lead but glided too long on his finish. Now, it’s time for the rematch. But it was another stunning disappointment for Missy Franklin, the darling of the London Games. She failed to qualify for the final of the 200 freestyle, extending a mystifying loss of form since turning pro last summer.
Hungary’s Katinka Hosszu became the first two-time gold medalist at the Olympic Aquatics Stadium, adding the women’s 100 backstroke title to her world-record victory in the 400 individual medley.
In another result sure to stir the doping debate, China’s Sun Yang captured gold in the men’s 200 free. Two years ago, he served a three-month suspension for taking a banned stimulant.
Murphy gave the Americans their sixth straight gold medal in his event, rallying on the return lap to win in 51.97. The Americans’ last loss in the 100 back came at the 1992 Barcelona Games.