Gold medalist Ye Shiwen of China stands at the medal ceremony for the women's 200-m individual medley during the London Games on July 31, 2012.
Did she or didn’t she? After Ye Shiwen, a shy 16-year-old swimmer from China, captured the gold medal in the 400-m individual medley event, the whispers began. Had Ye, who swam her final 50 m faster than her male Olympic counterpart and shaved five seconds off her personal best, doped in her world-record performance? The Chinese cried foul, saying there was no evidence whatsoever that Ye’s performance was chemically enhanced. Yes, a series of Chinese swimmers had been caught doping in international competition, but that was back in the ’90s. Besides, drug cheats are hardly a Chinese phenomenon. Even as a top American swimming coach cast aspersions on Ye’s time, the International Olympic Committee defended her. Ye captured another gold in the 200-m individual medley, but her Olympic celebrations were muted by the controversy surrounding her. A golden girl was tarred.