'That's unbelievable': Olympic star's insane home video stuns fans
Yuliya Efimova has sent her social media followers into a frenzy with a video of her insane home workout during the coronavirus crisis.
The controversial Russian swimmer showed off her incredible core strength with a number of swimming exercises on her kitchen bench.
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With the lower half of her body on the bench and the top half hanging off, Efimova somehow managed to do butterfly, backstroke and freestyle all without falling.
The insane video has been viewed over 10 million times on social media, with fans shocked at how easily she pulls off the ridiculous feat.
However not everyone was impressed.
Some eagle-eyed viewers have pointed out that there appears to be someone off camera holding Efimova’s feet.
Others like Scottish swimmer Michael Jamieson was simply unwilling to celebrate Efimova after her 16-month doping ban in 2015-16.
“2 million views for a dope cheat, gtf,” Jamieson wrote in response to one video posted on Twitter.
Not sure why you’re promoting a convicted drug cheat 🤦🏼♂️
Slap in the face to all our clean athletes— paulpearcecoaching (@paulcoachpearce) April 21, 2020
Promoting a drug cheat. Good one.
— Jack Hawke (@jackhawke91) April 21, 2020
Even with feet held down it is impressive core strength.
— RichA (@richardascough) April 21, 2020
Okay then, time to start building my abs and core strength, that’s unbelievable 👍
— Jim Wilson (@JimWilsonTV) April 21, 2020
This is more beautiful out of the water 😍
— Megan Schutt (@megan_schutt) April 21, 2020
Efimova at centre of swimming doping controversy
Efimova has been a controversial figure ever since she tested positive to a banned steroid.
The Russian swimmer has been heavily criticised by rivals in the past, including Australia’s Emily Seebohm and American Lilly King.
Efimova was suspended for 16 months after testing positive for a banned steroid, but the 27-year-old was cleared to compete at the 2016 Olympics after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruled athletes cannot be banned on the basis that they have been previously sanctioned.
King, a staunch activist for clean sport who also condemned Sun Yang, snubbed Efimova on the podium after they won gold and silver in the 100m breaststroke in Rio.
King, then 19, slammed the decision to let drug-tainted swimmers compete.
Efimova then fired back at her fierce rival at the 2019 world championships, claiming King probably regretted her behaviour in Rio when she refused to shake hands.
“If you take Lilly King and ask her if she'd do the same as she did (then), I think she would never say I did it right,” Efimova said.
“Probably she'd think she did it wrong.”
The pair's feud subsequently morphed into one of the most bitter rivalries in women's swimming, however both athletes have called a fragile truce.
“We are still fighting in the pool but not in life,” said Efimova.
“She's not a friend...but it's just a good relationship between people who swim.”
