US Nationals Day 3 Finals: Vintage Lilly King Dominates 50 Breaststroke; Tie for Second
Lilly King announced the end is near, but she is still far from done.
The Olympic gold medalist has been a mainstay on the national team for a decade and though she announced this will be her final season, she made a statement with her 30.15 in the 50 breaststroke during the Day 3 prelims.
King posted earlier this week that she was happy to have it all end at the pool where it basically all began. Her home championship pool in her home state.
King pulled ahead early and won in a 29.88 to add another national championship to her stunning resume and extend that career a little more with a spot on the World Championship team.
“Any time I can get under 30, it is a good swim. Being able to do that in my ripe old age is still really exciting,” King said. “I like to win, so any time I get to do that is special, and to do it in front of the crowd here is really special.”
She has been swimming here since age 10. Her mother swam the first high school state meet at the Natatorium.
“I always try to soak it in here just because I get a lot of love from the crowd. But I am not getting that nostalgic yet. … This has always been my plan. I knew Paris would be my last Olympics. I can’t wait to watch in LA. I am ready to move on with my life and be a normal human. Like right now, I don’t know how to eat when I don’t have to practice. I am excited to move on and see the sport from the other side.”
It was a vintage King performance as she was out quick and somehow continued to get quicker and pull away, even in a 50. Now the 50s are in the Olympic lineup, but that didn’t sway King’s decision.
“I thought about it for about six hours. I felt like when Katniss learned that they were pulling from the existing pool of victories in the Hunger Games. That is the closest way I can describe it,” she said. “But I woke up the next morning and was (ready to keep the same plan).”
It was such a dominating performance that it took a second to sink in that McKenzie Siroky and Emma Weber tied for the second spot in 30.43. They will compete in a swim-off at 7 p.m. Saturday.
Skyler Smith took the fourth spot at 30.47, ahead of Alex Walsh (30.54) and Piper Enge (30.86).
So if King went this fast, what is her expectations in the final meet of her career in Singapore?
“Swim fast,” she deadpanned.
