Russian swimmer Yulia Efimova, who won two silver medals at the Rio Olympics, yesterday said she continued to respect United States legend Michael Phelps but considered his remark on doping as “uncomely”
Yulia Efimova and Michael Phelps
Moscow: Russian swimmer Yulia Efimova, who won two silver medals at the Rio Olympics, yesterday said she continued to respect United States legend Michael Phelps but considered his remark on doping as “uncomely”.
Russian swimmer Yulia Efimova bagged silver in 100m and 200m breaststroke events at Rio Games recently. pic/getty images
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Phelps, the 23-time Olympic champ, said earlier “it breaks my heart” to see athletes at the Olympics who had served bans for doping, reports Tass. “Everything was easier before the Olympics but now the relations are strained,” Efimova told Tass.
“Some friends have remained, others do not talk and I have no female friends in sport. I respect Phelps. He is an incredible athlete. But he behaved towards me in a way that it was unpleasant for me,” Efimova said.
Michael Phelps
“He was my benchmark and I looked up to him. Now I have heard that he didn’t speak specifically about me but about the general situation. But everyone has his or her own history,” she added.
Efimova won silver in women’s 100m and 200m breaststroke at the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. The athlete was also the bronze medallist of the 2012 Olympic Games.
Earlier, Efimova was denied entry for Rio Games for violating doping rules back in 2013, for which she served a term of punishment.
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