In the hours leading up to the final of the women’s 100 meter breaststroke, a rivalry began to fester between Lilly King of the United States and Russia’s Yulia Efimova. With Efimova originally banned from competing as part of a Russian doping scandal, she arrived in Rio amidst controversy. With both laying claim to the top spot in the event following their respective semifinal heats, the world would have its answer as to who was really number one.
The answer: King.
King won the gold medal, finishing in 1:04.93 with Efimova winning silver with a time of 1:05.