2016 RIO OLYMPIC GAMES

After Yuliya Efimova won the first semi-final of the 100 breast, she wagged her finger signalling “number one” as the heat winner. Not impressed by this gesture, Lilly King, watching while preparing for the second semi, mockingly waved her finger, as if to say ‘not so fast’.

King went onto win her semi in 1:05.70, 0.02 faster than Efimova’s 1:05.72 in the first semi. When question about her gesture post race by an NBC reporter, King responded “you wave your finger number one and you’ve been caught drug cheating…I’m not a fan”.

OH SNAP! Lilly King explains the finger waving towards Russian swimmer Yulia Efimova. pic.twitter.com/aLrkhSkNuG — ⓂarcusD (@_MarcusD_) August 8, 2016

Efimova has had two different doping infractions in her career, and was cleared to compete in Rio just yesterday.

That makes both King and 2012 gold medallist Ruta Meilutyte two of the people who have called out Efimova, as Meilutyte did so on twitter when Efimova was originally announced to compete. FINA’s decision on the matter went back and forth for a while.

The final sets up to be an emotional affair tomorrow night, with Efimova set to swim in lane 5 between King in 4 and Meilutyte in 6. Meilutyte doesn’t appear to be on her best form, qualifying 4th in 1:06.44, so King looks to have the best shot at Efimova in the final.