Olympic swimmer Lilly King spoke for the world this past week during the 100m breaststroke semifinal and final competitions at the swimming arena in Rio.
Even at 19, King isn't afraid to speak her mind and explain her actions in front of the world. On Sunday, August 7, King was watching the race before her heat, a heat that included one of the most controversial athletes of the Rio Olympics, Yulia Efimova, a Russian swimmer who has been suspended multiple times for illegal drug use and was still allowed to compete in the 2016 Olympics last minute.
Efimova served at 16 month suspension for doping that started in 2014, ending in early 2015. But, that wasn't the last time she was caught. Earlier this year, she failed another drug test where she tested positive for the newly banned drug Meldonium. However, she was never punished for failing the drug test because the swimming's global governing body known as FINA granted her appeal she had given.
The reason why she appealed? Because, she stated, she had already paid her penalty the time before. Yulia Efimova seems to think she's so high and mighty that just because she served her penalty once, she never has to again. Well, United States swimmer Lilly King seems to think differently.
After multiple Russian athletes and the entirety of the Russian Paralympic team was banned from the Rio Olympics for using banned substances, Efimova's past worked its way into Rio and no one is happy about it. Not only Lilly King, but also multiple athletes, such as American shot putter and an activist for athletes' rights, stated, “I think what you’re seeing is the desire of Olympic athletes to uphold the values of the Olympic Games without exception,” Adam Nelson said in an email Monday.
King's own desire to uphold the values have sparked a flame in many athletes around the world as well as fans. The United States, Lilly King and the world are unhappy and disappointed with the Russians, Efimova and the multiple committees that this has passed. But, watching King speak out about this issue that has started to become a number one topic at Rio and is inspiring to all athletes and fans to keep the game clean.
