Podium Potpourri: Breaststroke Star Lilly King Shares a Few Insights From a Golden Career
USA’s Lilly King has won multiple Olympic medals in the breaststroke and on relays, and is the current world record holder in the long course 100 meter breaststroke. She has been a fixture on Team USA for a decade and has dominated breaststroke during that time.
Among her accomplishments:
- Five Olympic medals: 2 gold (2016 Rio de Janeiro: 100 breast, 4 x 100 medley relay), 2 silver (2020 Tokyo: 200 breast, 4 x 100 medley relay) and 1 bronze (2020 Tokyo: 100 breast)
- 23 World Championships medals (13 long course, 10 short course): 17 gold, 5 silver, 1 bronze between 2016 and 2023
- 1 gold (100 breast) and 2 silver (200 breast, 4 x 100 medley relay) medals at the 2018 Pan Pacific Championships in Tokyo
- 2 gold (100 breast, 4 x 100 medley relay) medals at the 2014 Junior Pan Pac Championships in Maui
WAS THERE ANOTHER SPORT YOU PARTICIPATED IN WHEN YOU WERE YOUNGER? ANY MEMORIES STAND OUT?
I played baseball and volleyball, and I ran track and cross country. But I remember always being ready for swim season to start!
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE MOVIE AND/OR BOOK? WHY?
My favorite movie is A League of Their Own. It was filmed in my hometown (Evansville, Ind.), and it’s my favorite “girl power” movie.
COMPARE YOURSELF TO A SUPERHERO—WHICH ONE AND WHY?
I love Marvel, so this one is tricky! Honestly, I feel like She-Hulk sometimes with my “breaking-the-fourth-wall” deadpan responses.
WHERE DO YOU KEEP YOUR MEDALS?
I have all of my Olympic medals in a homemade cozy in my office. I have no idea where any of my other medals are!
WHAT WENT THROUGH YOUR MIND ON THE PODIUM IN TOKYO…AND HOW WAS IT DIFFERENT FROM PREVIOUS OLYMPICS?
Being on the podium at the Olympics is always a really weird movie moment for me. I just try to stay present in the moment.
WHAT IS YOUR GO-TO FOOD TO CELEBRATE AFTER A BIG MEET?
Usually Mexican food…because most of the countries I have traveled to do NOT have Mexican like we do at home. I’m usually craving something spicy after a week of eating really bland meet food.