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Former IU swimmer King disqualified in 200 breast heats at world championships

United States' Lilly King leaves the pool after her womens' 200m breaststroke heat at the World Swimming Championships in Gwangju, South Korea, Thursday, July 25, 2019. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

GWANGJU, South Korea (AP) — American swimmer Lilly King lost an
appeal of her disqualification from the 200-meter breaststroke
preliminaries at the world championships on Thursday.

FINA’s jury of appeal upheld the DQ shortly before the evening finals began.

It was a big blow for King, the outspoken doping critic who was aiming for a sweep of the breaststroke titles in Gwangju. She already won the 100 over Russian rival Yulia Efimova. She is a Evansville native and former Indiana University swimmer.

King won the third morning heat
in 2 minutes, 24.56 seconds, but was disqualified for not touching the
wall with both hands at the same time in the first turn of the four-lap
race, according to USA Swimming.

The U.S. team filed a formal
protest, which was denied by FINA’s appeals process. The matter was then
escalated to the jury of appeal at the Americans’ request and the
decision came down about seven hours later.

King’s time would have
qualified her second-fastest for the evening semifinals behind Canada’s
Sydney Pickrem, who led the way in 2:24.53.

King reacted with
shock upon seeing “DSQ” next to her name on the video board. She said
she wasn’t told why she had been disqualified although she asked the
officials.

On-deck judges supervise each lane to observe whether swimmers are simultaneously touching the wall.

Swimming in the last heat, Efimova said she was a bit nervous after seeing the DQ.

“I’m
actually always thinking about this because some people make some stuff
and nothing happen, but I know if a Russian do something, it’s always
like …,” she said, making a kicking motion with her foot.

King’s
DQ recalled a similar situation involving Aaron Peirsol in the 200
backstroke final at the 2004 Athens Olympics that had a different
outcome.

The American was disqualified for making an illegal turn
while finishing first. The decision was overturned and he received the
gold medal.