The King’s reign came to an end on Tuesday morning in Tokyo.
Former IU swimmer Lilly King finished third in the 100-meter breaststroke final at the Olympic Games. 17-year old fellow American Lydia Jacoby claimed the gold medal. King was 0.59 seconds off the pace at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre. South Africa’s Tatjana Schoenmaker finished second.
King came to Tokyo as the favorite. When not disqualified, she arrived unbeaten in the event over the last five-and-a-half years. But a loss in the semifinals foretold her fate in the final.
The 24 year old King was gracious in defeat. She embraced Jacoby in the pool and then spoke on the NBC broadcast moments later.
“We love to keep that gold in the USA family,” King said. “This kid (Jacoby) just had the swim of her life and I’m proud to be her teammate, and proud to take bronze for my country.”
King won the gold medal in Rio in 2016 and was attempting to become the first woman to repeat as Olympic champion in the 100-meter breaststroke.
The Evansville, Ind. product remains the world record holder in the event. The bronze is King’s third overall Olympic medal. Her bronze in Tokyo is IU’s 107th all-time Olympic medal.
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