Lilly King tops rival Efimova for gold, Meili takes bronze
Americas Lilly King beat Russias Yulia Efimova to win gold in the 100-meter breaststroke Monday at the Olympic Aquatics Stadium in one of the most anticipated contests of the Games.
King finished in 1 minute4.93 seconds, more than a half-second ahead of Efimova.
Efimova, twice banned for doping, was once again loudly booed before the race. Shes become a symbol at the Games of frustration over Russias state-sponsored doping scandal.
Katie Meili, another U.S. swimmer, finished third.
The posturing between King and Efimova became one of the early stories of the Games. During Sundays semifinals, Efimova shook her finger in the No. 1 sign. King later said that Im not a fan of the Russian and voiced her disapproval with the International Olympic Committees decision to allow her to participate.
After Mondays race, Efimova left the pool deck alone. King strode past her without acknowledgement.
"Tonight has been so crazy," King said after the race. "My life is changing right now. I"m a gold medallist and it"s what I"ve always wanted to be and it"s an incredible feeling.
"It just proves that you can compete clean and still come out on top with all the work you put in."
The International Swimming Federation announced last month that Efimova and six other Russian swimmers were banned from the Olympics for either previously failing doping tests or were named in the World Anti-Doping Agency"sinvestigation into state-sponsored doping in the country.
Efimova and at least five of the swimmers were quietly cleared last week to compete in the Games.
"A week ago, I didn"t even know if I could race because I"m Russian. I"m just happy to be here," Efimova said after the race.
Neither the International Swimming Federation or the IOC has explained the reversal or responded to requests for comment on the matter.
King, a 19-year-old from Indiana, held the worlds top time in the event this year entering the Olympics.
Source: http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-oly-rio-2016-lily-king-beats-yulia-efimova-in-100m-1470708836-htmlstory.html
