Zimbabwe’s famous ‘golden girl’ of swimming is enjoying impressive form, which puts her in good stead to defend her titles as well as earn another medal haul in Asia.
The 27-year-old Coventry is fresh from a successful tour of Europe where she shone at the 48th Sette Colli Trophy in Italy.
Held in the capital Rome, the international event proved a favourable hunting ground for the Zimbabwean world champion.
Coventry, a product of Harare Dominican Convent High School’s successful swimming programme, won two gold medals in the individual medley and scooped silver in the backstroke.
The swimming sensation has arguably been the country’s most successful athlete since the turn of the millennium. She is a defending champion ahead of the Shangai event.
She won the 200 m backstroke world title with a world record time and came second in the 400 m individual medley.
Nonetheless, she came fourth in the 200 m individual medley final and eighth in the 100m backstroke final.
Coventry first shot to prominence at the 2004 Summer Olympics, in Athens, Greece, where she won three medals: a gold, a silver, and a bronze. Four years later, in the same competition in Beijing, China, she won a further four medals; one gold and three silver.
She was subsequently described as a Zimbabwean ‘national treasure,’ earning $100 000 in and a diplomatic passport from the Zimbabwean government.
The 14th edition of the World Swimming Championships starts with an Opening Ceremony and will run until July 31. The world’s biggest names will compete in a number of sports, including swimming and diving.
Post published in: Sport