She’s a good girl: Russia backs Yulia Efimova after Olympic Games ‘provocations’
The 24-year-old was booed as she entered the pool area and was left in tears after being narrowly beaten by American teenager Lilly King in the women’s 100m breaststroke final
Russia’s sports minister Vitaly Mutko on Tuesday praised drug-tainted swimmer Yulia Efimova after she claimed a silver medal at the Olympic Games despite hostility from the crowd and criticism from rivals.
“I think it just proved that you can compete clean and still come out on top,” King said of her win, after earlier criticising Efimova.
WATCH: golden moments on Day 3 at Rio Olympics
Russia, however, has rallied round their competitors despite them only narrowly escaping a blanket ban over shocking revelations of state-run doping.
“Yulia is without doubt a good girl,” said Mutko.
“After undergoing such a terrible ordeal she has showed character, will power and courage even though, as we can see, that certain provocations still happening.”