Lilly King Queen Of 100 Breaststroke; Sets New Olympic Record

King first Big Ten woman to win an Olympic swimming gold and Indiana’s first Olympic gold-medalist since Jim Montgomery won 100 free in a then world-record 49.99 some 40 years ago — only to see his record broken a mere two weeks later by Sourh Africa’s Jonty Skinner during the AAU Championships in the city of “Brotherly Love.”

Skinner had been barred from swimming @ Montreal due to South Africa’s nation ban for its then Apartheid policies so the AAUs were his “Olympics: and he made the most of his opportunity.

King, however, is not the Hoosiers’ first woman’s swimming international gold-medalist. At the 2007 World Championships in Melbourne IU’s Lila Varziri won gold in the 50 breast. Both King, Varziri and Lily’s Olympic teammate Blake Pieroni (800 FR) are or were coached by IU head man Ray Looze, a former All-America IMer under legendary USC coach Peter Daland.

BTW: congrats, Lilly for a great swim and for speaking out about you-know-who. Great to see someone take a stand like that. Now give her hell in the 200!