Lillia Camille King, born on February 10, 1997, in Evansville, Indiana, is a renowned American former competitive swimmer who specialized in breaststroke events.
Growing up in a family deeply rooted in athletics, King began swimming at the age of seven and quickly emerged as a prodigy in the sport.
Her journey from local pools to international podiums exemplifies relentless determination and unyielding competitive spirit.
King’s outspoken personality and fierce rivalry on the pool deck, particularly during high-stakes moments like her famous finger-wagging gesture at the 2016 Olympics, made her a standout figure not just for her athletic prowess but for her authenticity.
After a storied career spanning nearly two decades, she announced her retirement in May 2025 following the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore.
Siblings
Lilly has a younger brother named Alex.
Born less than a year after Lilly, Alex King grew up in the same athletic household in Evansville, where the siblings turned everyday activities into intense competitions.
This no-holds-barred sibling rivalry, inherited from their parents Mark and Ginny King—both former college athletes who later coached—instilled in Lilly a mindset where victories brought no special rewards and losses carried no punishments, fostering resilience and a focus on personal growth over external validation.
Alex followed in his sister’s footsteps by becoming a walk-on swimmer for the University of Michigan, carving out his own reputation in the pool while continuing to support Lilly’s pursuits.
Their close bond extended beyond the water, with Alex often present in the stands during her major competitions, including the 2024 Paris Olympics, providing unwavering encouragement.
Career
King’s swimming career was a tapestry of breakthroughs, records, and triumphs across collegiate, national, and international stages.
She honed her skills at F.J. Reitz High School in Evansville, setting multiple state records and establishing herself as a national age-group standout by winning the 100-yard breaststroke at the 2012 U.S. Winter Junior National Championships with a record time of 59.67.
Transitioning to Indiana University in 2015, King dominated the NCAA scene, becoming only the second swimmer in history to sweep the 100-yard and 200-yard breaststroke titles all four years of her college career.
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Her freshman year alone yielded NCAA championships in both events, earning her the Big Ten Swimmer of the Year and Freshman of the Year honors, along with four All-America accolades.
She capped her collegiate tenure in 2019 as the Honda Sports Award winner for swimming and diving, solidifying her status as one of the greatest Hoosiers ever.
On the international front, King’s breakthrough came at the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials, where she qualified for the Rio Olympics by winning the 100-meter and 200-meter breaststroke events.
There, she claimed gold in the 100-meter breaststroke and contributed to the 4×100-meter medley relay gold, marking the start of her Olympic legacy.
The 2017 World Aquatics Championships in Budapest saw her set a world record in the 100-meter breaststroke at 1:04.13 en route to gold, while also securing victories in the 50-meter and 200-meter events.
At the Tokyo 2020 Olympics (held in 2021), she earned bronze medals in both the 100-meter and 200-meter breaststroke, showcasing her versatility.
King’s post-Tokyo resurgence included a 200-meter breaststroke world title in 2022 and multiple relay golds.
Approaching her final chapter, she competed in the 2024 Paris Olympics, finishing tied for fourth in the 100-meter breaststroke, eighth in the 200-meter, and anchoring the gold-medal-winning 4×100-meter medley relay that set a world record of 3:49.63.
Her professional phase also featured stints in the International Swimming League, where she amassed 31 individual victories, and consistent U.S. national titles.
King retired after placing fifth in the 50-meter breaststroke at the 2025 World Aquatics Championships in Singapore, having swum her last race in the women’s 4×100-meter medley relay prelims.
Accolades
King amassed six Olympic medals across three Games: two golds from Rio 2016 (100-meter breaststroke and 4×100-meter medley relay), two bronzes from Tokyo 2020 (100-meter and 200-meter breaststroke), and one gold from Paris 2024 (4×100-meter medley relay, world record-setting).
On the world stage, she captured 20 World Aquatics Championships medals, including five individual long-course golds in the 50-meter, 100-meter, and 200-meter breaststroke events, highlighted by her 2017 world record in the 100-meter at 1:04.13.
Collegiately, King secured eight NCAA titles, sweeping the 100-yard and 200-yard breaststroke every year from 2016 to 2019, and was a four-time All-American.
She earned the Honda Sports Award in 2019 as the nation’s top female swimmer and was named Big Ten Swimmer of the Year multiple times, alongside Big Ten Freshman of the Year in 2016.
Additional accolades include world records in short-course yards events, such as the 100-yard breaststroke (55.88 in 2019), and her pivotal role in U.S. relay successes.
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