Coventry puts Zim among elite
2008-04-15 08:32
Harare - Kirsty Coventry is single-handedly transforming Zimbabwe into a swimming power.
Coventry's four gold medals at the short-course world championships in Manchester, England, placed Zimbabwe fourth in the medals table, ahead of hosts Britain and Russia. Only traditional powers the United States, Australia and the Netherlands did better.
"It's nice to see someone that's not from Australia or America doing so well, showing that it can be done. She's inspirational," said Hannah Miley of Britain, who finished second to Coventry in the 400 individual medley and third behind the Zimbabwean in the 200 IM.
Coventry also set three world records at the championships, second only to Ryan Lochte's four.
"I hope I can go to Beijing and keep the ball rolling," Coventry said of the upcoming Olympics, where she plans to swim four events - the 100 and 200 backstrokes and 200 and 400 IM - the same ones she won in Manchester.
At the 2004 Athens Games, Coventry won gold in the 200 backstroke, and also took home a silver and a bronze.
"It's been a busy week," Coventry said as she pulled her purple goggles off after one race. "I haven't had a chance to settle down and think about it."
Coventry lives and trains in the United States with her personal coach at the University of Texas, Kim Brackin, who she followed from Auburn, where Coventry swam in college.
"We knew from our college swimming that she was a good IM swimmer, but she's really brought herself into contention for medals in that," United States head coach Mark Schubert said.
Coventry spent her childhood in Zimbabwe but decided to emigrate due to the limited training facilities in her home country.
"There are no indoor pools, so for winter - three months of the year - you can't train," she said. "And it's hard to get the funding to heat the pools."
The political situation in Zimbabwe is also a problem, with the election crisis headed into a third week and the results of the presidential vote still not released.
"I don't like to get into politics, but I am into it because my family still lives there - my parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles," Coventry said. "The situation has been so bad for so long now that everyone is hoping something changes for the better.
"That's why I represent Zimbabwe and why I will always represent Zimbabwe. It still holds a place in my heart."
Living in the United States is just "a little less stressful".
One drawback of representing a country with so few swimmers - Coventry only had one teammate in Manchester - is that she can't enter the relay events.
"It's hard, because in college there were 60 of us on the team - 30 guys and 30 girls," Coventry said. "Hopefully Zimbabwe will be able to compete one day."
Coventry is a celebrity in Zimbabwe and the worlds were shown on live TV there. Swimming fans in the United States and Australia had to settle for Internet coverage.
"My mom told me the phone hasn't stopped ringing," Coventry said.
Coventry doesn't come across as one of those athletes with a huge ego. She is insightful and easy to talk to.
"She's been so well received and I think she's handling her success really well," Brackin said. "We came here to win events and set world records. I think we're on track in our plan for Beijing."
- SAPA