After claiming gold in the women's 100m breaststroke last night, swimmer Lilly King fired the shot heard 'round the world--and not just the swimming world.

US swimmer Lilly King on sprinter Justin Gatlin: "Do I think people caught for doping offenses should be on the team? No."

— Rachel Bachman (@Bachscore) August 9, 2016

Let me back it up for you non-swim fans to understand. Russian Yulia Efimova, King's top competition, was previously suspended under a 16-month doping ban that ended in 2015. She recently failed a drug test for meldonium, but argued she already served her time, so that test result should be overturned. Her appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport was granted, and she was just let back into competition on Saturday--the first day of Olympic swimming in Rio.

During the qualifying rounds on Sunday, 19-year-old King wagged her finger in the air after posting the fastest qualifying time. During the semifinal, Efimova, who has been booed in the Olympic arena, wagged her again in retaliation after recording the fastest time in her section.

King, who was watching from the waiting room, responded:

Lilly King doesn't hold back.

Mondays 100m breaststroke final is about. To go. Down. https://t.co/BWGaUNiTHM https://t.co/YknNeqjv6H

— NBC Olympics (@NBCOlympics) August 8, 2016

She then beat Efimova's time in her semifinal, and wagged her finger again from the pool.


The finger wag seen 'round the world. You cannot make this stuff up.
Photo: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

The competing gestures set up for a fun final on Monday evening. King won in an Olympic record of 1:04.93; Efimova came up second in 1:05.50. And King certainly didn't stop there:

Lilly King do you think you've made a statement tonight?

"I hope I did."https://t.co/BWGaUNiTHM https://t.co/ldGafHOi56

— NBC Olympics (@NBCOlympics) August 9, 2016

But what happened away from the NBC cameras after is what the people are talking about.

King was asked at the press conference about Justin Gatlin, the Olympic Trials 100m and 200m champion, who served a four-year doping ban from 2006-2010. She did not shy away from her stance on those who don't compete clean.

"I have to respect their decision, even if it's not something that I necessarily agree with. Now, do I think people who have been caught for doping offenses should be on the team? No. They shouldn't," King told the Wall Street Journal.

"It's unfortunate that we have to see that, and that it's such a toss-up in between sports and in between countries. It's just something that needs to be set in stone; that this is what we're going to do to settle this, and that should be the end of it. There should not be any bouncing back and forth."

The internet exploded.

More @USASwimming athletes need to SPEAK UP like @_king_lil. Can't always only be one person calling out the cheaters. Strength in numbers.

— Lindsay Lew (@lindsayelew) August 9, 2016

We need more athletes taking a stand like @_king_lil she says Gatlin +others who've tested + should NOT compete. https://t.co/h21GKirsxe

— Steve Magness (@stevemagness) August 9, 2016

Guys, @_king_lil already made #America great again. Politicians should find something else to whine about.

— Joe Manzella (@JoeManzella) August 9, 2016

I got to say @_king_lil, I like your style. #CleanSport

— Kara Goucher (@karagoucher) August 8, 2016