An anticipated Lilly King–Yulia Efimova rematch at the world short course championships next week is off after Efimova withdrew for health reasons.
King is not lamenting the absence of her Russian rival.
“It makes it an easier race for me,” King said last week. “Obviously, we’re not friendly. So I guess that’s a lot nicer for me, just not to have her there.”
King said it was kind of in the back of her mind when she signed up for short course worlds in Windsor, Ontario, that she might face Efimova there for the first time since the Rio Olympics.