Efimova told CNN’s Nick Paton Walsh that she was left “upset” by King’s comments before and after the 100m breaststroke final, in which the American won gold.

Lilly criticised her Russian opponents for being “caught drug cheating” but Efimova claimed the media stoked the flames.

EFIMOVA ON LILY KING

“The media always try to do some war or something between athletes. I think it’s more, like, interesting to watch but it’s very hard for athletes.

“It’s upset me so much, especially from like Michael Phelps and girls like Lilly King, and everybody.”

“She is too young. She (doesn’t) know about things. She (doesn’t) know how life is going sometimes when you try to do right.”

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EFIMOVA ON RUSSIAN DOPING 

“I know a lot of Russian athletes. It’s like more stupid – ‘oh just Russians use doping’ but every other country is fine?

“It’s like Russia, Russia, Russia, Russia like all Russia just ‘drink vodka, like have beer and drink doping’ and that’s it.”

EFIMOVA ON LIVING IN AMERICA 

“Life is so much easier than in Russia. Everybody is smiling.

“America is about change – it changed me.”