Quick Facts

Specialty: Breaststroke

Biographical Information

Lilly King is an American breaststroke swimmer, an Olympic gold medalist and world record holder.

King's senior career has been marked by consistent excellence and numerous record-breaking performances. Her dominance in breaststroke events has made her a cornerstone of the U.S. national swimming team.

King was born to a family of swimmers. She is known for her outspoken personality and advocacy for clean sport. Outside of swimming, King enjoys spending time with her family and has been involved in various charitable causes.

Olympic Highlights

At the 2016 Rio Olympics, King won gold in the 100m breaststroke, setting an Olympic record of 1:04.93, and earned another gold in the 4x100m medley relay. The 2020 Tokyo Olympics yielded two bronze medals in the 100m breaststroke and 200m breaststroke. At the 2024 Paris Olympics, she placed fourth in the 100m breaststroke with 1:05.60.

World Championship Highlights

At the 2017 Budapest Championships, King set a world record in the 100m breaststroke with 1:04.13, claimed silver in the 200m breaststroke and won gold in the 4x100m medley relay. The 2019 Gwangju World Championships brought gold medals in the 50m breaststroke and 100m breaststroke (1:04.93), plus a silver medal in the 4x100m medley relay.

Early Career

King began swimming at a young age and quickly showed promise in breaststroke events. She attended F.J. Reitz High School where she set multiple state records. Her collegiate career at Indiana University was marked by numerous NCAA titles and record-breaking performances. During her time as a Hoosier, King developed into one of the most dominant collegiate swimmers in history.

Olympic Experience

3-time Olympian; 6-time Olympic medalist (3 gold, 2 silver, 1 bronze)
- Olympic Games Paris 2024, gold (4 x 100m Medley Relay - Women), 4th (100m Breaststroke - Women), 8th (200m Breaststroke - Women)
- Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, silver (200m Breaststroke - Women, 4 x 100m Medley Relay - Women), bronze (100m Breaststroke - Women)
- Olympic Games Rio de Janeiro 2016, gold (100m Breaststroke - Women, 4 x 100m Medley Relay - Women), 12th (200m Breaststroke - Women)

World Championships Experience

Most recent: 2023 – gold (4 x 100m Medley Relay - Women), silver (50m Breaststroke - Women), 4th (100m Breaststroke - Women, 200m Breaststroke - Women)
Years of participation: 100m Breaststroke - Women 2017, 2019, 2022, 2023; 200m Breaststroke - Women 2017, 2019, 2022, 2023; 4 x 100m Medley Relay - Women 2017, 2019, 2022, 2023; 50m Breaststroke - Women 2017, 2019, 2022, 2023; 100m Breaststroke (SC) - Women 2016, 2022; 200m Breaststroke (SC) - Women 2016, 2022; 4 x 100m Medley Relay - Mixed 2017, 2019, 2022; 4 x 100m Medley Relay (SC) - Women 2016, 2022; 4 x 50m Medley Relay (SC) - Women 2016, 2022; 50m Breaststroke (SC) - Women 2016, 2022; 100m Individual Medley (SC) - Women 2016; 4 x 50m Medley Relay (SC) - Mixed 2016
Medals: 23 (17 gold, 5 silver, 1 bronze)
- Gold – 2023 (4 x 100m Medley Relay - Women); 2022 (200m Breaststroke - Women, 4 x 100m Medley Relay - Mixed, 4 x 100m Medley Relay - Women, 100m Breaststroke (SC) - Women, 4 x 100m Medley Relay (SC) - Women); 2019 (100m Breaststroke - Women, 4 x 100m Medley Relay - Women, 50m Breaststroke - Women); 2017 (100m Breaststroke - Women, 4 x 100m Medley Relay - Mixed, 4 x 100m Medley Relay - Women, 50m Breaststroke - Women); 2016 (4 x 100m Medley Relay (SC) - Women, 4 x 50m Medley Relay (SC) - Mixed, 4 x 50m Medley Relay (SC) - Women, 50m Breaststroke (SC) - Women)
- Silver – 2023 (50m Breaststroke - Women); 2022 (200m Breaststroke (SC) - Women, 4 x 50m Medley Relay (SC) - Women); 2019 (4 x 100m Medley Relay - Mixed); 2016 (100m Breaststroke (SC) - Women)
- Bronze – 2022 (50m Breaststroke (SC) - Women)

Education

Explore More Athletes