U.S. swimmer Lilly King’s gold medal win in the women’s 100-meter breaststroke Monday night was more than just a personal victory — it was a statement.
King finished more than a half-second ahead of the world champion, Russia’s Yulia Efimova, who had taunted her following Sunday’s semifinals, igniting a very public feud between the two athletes.
It all started with a finger wave.
You see, Efimova, who has a history of doping, was booed nearly every time she entered the Olympic Aquatics Stadium in Rio after being tied to the Russian state-sponsored doping scandal.
READ MORE: How Russia pulled off state-sponsored cheating at the Olympics
The Russian swim star served a 16-month suspension for doping in 2014. She was only cleared to compete in Rio last week, after originally being banned for testing positive for meldonium, a banned substance. That decision was later overturned when she argued she had already served her penalty.
After posting the fastest qualifying time in the 100-meter breaststroke Sunday, King defiantly waved her finger in the air as if to say, “I’m number one.”
Efimova then copied that finger wave after winning the first semifinal.
King then retaliated when she won the second semifinal by waving her finger again.
READ MORE: Canada’s Kylie Masse wins bronze in 100m backstroke
In an interview with NBC King said, “You wave your finger No. 1 and you’ve been caught drug cheating? I’m not a fan.”
She added, “If that’s what she feels she needs to be able to compete, whatever, that’s her deal. I’m here to compete clean for the U.S. and that’s what I’m going to do.”
But King settled the score Monday night, winning the gold medal and setting a new Olympic record for the 100-meter breaststroke. Efimova took home the silver medal and left the pool visibly emotional.
Just like a good ol’ celebrity feud, social media erupted with reaction to the race, many dubbing the “Rocky IV” of swimming.
But King didn’t stop at criticizing her opponents, she even went after her own U.S. teammates. She was also asked about her thoughts on Justin Gatlin, a U.S. sprinter who has served two doping bans, and said, “Do I think someone who has been caught for doping should be on the team? No, I don’t.”
King wasn’t the only one to comment on doping in swimming. Michael Phelps, a 19-time Olympic champion, also commented on the scandal.
“I think it’s sad that we have people in sports today who are testing positive not only once, but twice, and still having the opportunity to swim at these Games,” he said.
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