Lilly King Puts 200 Breast DQ Behind Her With Gold in 50 Breast

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Lilly King won her second 50 breast World title. Photo Courtesy: Becca Wyant

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FINA World Swimming Championships (Lilly King)

Gwangju 2019

Day Eight Finals (Women’s 50 Breast)

USA’s Lilly King was able to put the 200 breaststroke disqualification behind her to win the 50 breast on the last night of the 2019 FINA World Swimming Championships in Gwangju, South Korea. King won the final with a 29.84 as she was the only swimmer to break 30 seconds.

“It felt a little flat but I had a great race from the girls in the heat, they swam really well. I’m just glad I got my hands on the wall first.”

King was able to keep it lighthearted after not being able to swim in the 200 breaststroke final that ultimately went to her chief rival Yulia Efimova.

“I mean a little bit, I was planning to be racing every day this week so it kind of changed up training plans,” King said. “Other than that I was trying to move on and refocus my energy on the 50.”

Efimova was expected to challenge King for the gold in the 50 breast but the Russian wasn’t able to get by King, something that has become routine the last few years. In fact, Efimova was beaten to the wall by 14-year-old Benedetta Pilato of Italy, who won her first medal at 30.00 for the silver. Pilato moved up to eighth all-time with her swim in the prelims and has a bright future ahead of her. Pilato did not swim the 100 breast in Gwangju.

Efimova won the bronze medal at 30.15 as she picked up her sixth medal in this event. She won gold in 2009 and 2013, took silver in 2011 and 2017, and won bronze in 2015. Efimova was well off her best time of 29.52.

King now has two gold medals in this event at the World Championships, matching Efimova, fellow American Jessica Hardy (2005, 2007) and China’s Luo Xuejuan (2001, 2003) as repeat winners in this event. King also joins Luo as the only women to win the 50 and 100 breast in the same World Championships and they both did it twice.

Jamaica’s Alia Atkinson finished in fourth place at 30.34 while Italy’s Martina Carraro (30.49), winner of the bronze in the 100 breast, placed fifth at 30.49.

Australia’s Jessica Hansen (30.84) placed sixth as she gets ready for the women’s 4×100 medley relay later in the session.

Germany’s Anna Elendt (31.06) and Finland’s Ida Hulkko (31.23) also swam in the final.

Women’s 50 Breast Results:

Lilly King, USA, 29.84
Benedetta Pilato, ITA, 30.00
Yulia Efimova, RUS, 30.15
Alia Atkinson, JAM, 30.34
Martina Carraro, ITA, 30.49
Jessica Hansen, AUS, 30.84
Anna Elendt, GER, 31.06
Ida Hulkko, FIN, 31.23

Top 10 Performers:

29.40, Lilly King, USA (2017)
29.48, Ruta Meilutyte, LTU (2013)
29.52, Yulia Efimova, RUS (2013)
29.71, Molly Hannis, USA (2018)
29.80, Jessica Hardy, USA (2009)
29.94, Alia Atkinson, JAM (2013)
29.95, Breeja Larson, USA (2013)
29.98, Benedetta Pilato, ITA (2019)
29.99, Katie Meili, USA (2017)
30.04, Imogen Clark, GBR (2018)

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Chantelle Telly Major Fields

4 years ago

Yup. Toss that over your shoulder, and move on!

Ed Burton

4 years ago

At least the drug cheat didn’t win ???

Tweedsmuir Atkinson

4 years ago

” 50 BREAST 30.11 08/09/15 2015 FINA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS KAZAN, RUSSIA ”
is the fastest time that we have on record for Alia Atkinson CD, from Jamaica. Please provide details of your
” 29.94, Alia Atkinson, JAM (2013). “