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Efimova Clocks 2:22 to Win 200 Breast on Night 3 of LA Invite

2016 LOS ANGELES INVITATIONAL

On day 3 of the 2016 LA Invitational, Russia’s Yuliya Efimova swam her first race since the lifting of her FINA ban for testing positive for the banned substance Meldonium earlier this year. Efimova won the race in 2:22.77, putting her almost 10 seconds ahead of the field. That time is just over a second slower than her season best 2:21.41 from the 2016 Arena Pro Swim in Orlando, which currently ranks her 2nd in the world as we head towards Rio.

In the women’s 50 free, Cal-based Egyptian sprinter Farida Osman and Arizona’s Olympic Trials finalist Katrina Konopka went head to head in a race that was very close down to the finish. Osman got her hand on the wall first for the win in 25.07, just beating out Konopka, who swam a 25.16 for 2nd.

On the men’s side, Trojan Swim Club swept the 200 free podium with Cristian Quintero, Nikita Lobintsev, and Dylan Carter. Quintero was the fastest man to the wall, touching in 1:49.22 for the win. Narrowly behind him were Lobintsev (1:49.41) and Carter (1:49.51), while Long Guitierrez (1:49.74) also swam sub-1:50 for 4th.

Russian speedster Vlad Morozov, who won last night’s 100 free, came out on top again tonight, this time taking the win in the men’s 50 free. Morozov won the race in 22.07, topping Russian teammates Alex Suhrokov (22.41) and Lobintsev (22.71).

Other Event Winners

  • Men’s 1500 Free: Tyler Jones, 15:54.96
  • Women’s 200 IM: Nikol Popov, 2:18.12
  • Men’s 200 Breast: Gage Crosby, 2:16.12
  • Women’s 400 Free: Kathryn Campbell, 4:14.75
  • Men’s 400 IM: Colin Eriks, 4:29.58
  • Women’s 800 Free Relay: Highlands Ranch Aquatics, 8:35.19
  • Men’s 800 Free Relay: Irvine Novaquatics, 7:37.48

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PVK
8 years ago

Every day cheaters like her are allowed to compete, there is less opportunity for those who play by the rules. #CleanOlympics2016 #BanRussia

Jordan
8 years ago

“Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice???…….you fool me cant get fooled again.”- Bush

Schwimfanny
8 years ago

That’s gotta be a bit awkward, walking onto a pool deck where everyone hates you and knows you’re cheating.

Attila the Hunt
Reply to  Schwimfanny
8 years ago

Do you not know Efimova?
She doesn’t give any hoot. She was extremely defiant in some media interview last year in the run up to Kazan, saying that she had served her suspension and likened doping to some simple mistake.
She didn’t even ask for her sample B (of her the first doping offense) to be tested. She knew she was guilty.

She is a cheater through and through, she knows it, she doesn’t care. And that means it’s never gonna be awkward for her.

Hswimmer
8 years ago

This pisses me off

25METER_IM
8 years ago

I await Ruta’s twitter response to this.

Joel Lin
8 years ago

Sometimes I think fair reasoning is merited. The Ous Mellouli instance of taking a greenie the night before to stay awake to finish a semster end project at USC is one. An Olympic swimmer testing positive for marijuana is another. Those are examples of unwise recreational use. This banned substances, still sanctionable and still bad decisions but not performance enhancing programs or indicative of a cheating recipe book.

This is different. The Russian Meldonium offenders are the lowest form of cheaters in the modern era. It was clearly a drug programme followed to systemically cheat their way up the world tables and onto podiums. It will be a disgrace to see the Russian flag go up in Rio if or… Read more »

Attila the Hunt
Reply to  Joel Lin
8 years ago

Adderall is not recreational. One of the reasons why Adderall is put on the banned list is because of its use as masking agent.

Stay Human
Reply to  Attila the Hunt
8 years ago

Well some kids do use Adderall recreationally, but the higher doses they need to get high is usually not worth the extra side effects for them. The more common lower doses they use don’t get them high but can enhance cognitive performance, and athletic performance, albeit more modestly, like regular doses of caffeine does. The example used by Joel Lin was not recreational as it was being used by Melloulli to enhance academic performance, I don’t know if he used it during the daytime to augment his swimming performance in practice or competition.

I’m not sure how you’re using the term “masking agent” for Adderall . If you mean masking pain, fatigue, and lack of focus, then yes. If you… Read more »

tea rex
8 years ago

While I wish Efimova would be banned from Rio, I have to appreciate GOYULIA’s earnest enthusiasm.

Lp Man
8 years ago

It would be cool if she showed up to Rio with a full beard and a build like Nathan Adrian and went a 1:58 in her 200 breast

About Braden Keith

Braden Keith

Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com. He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming. Aside from his life on the InterWet, …

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