Coventry clocked 2:08:32 but the time was way behind her world record of 2:04:81 and her Olympic record of 2:05:24 and has to improve on her performance as five other participants in the semi finals had better times than her.
She finished just behind Miss Franklin of the USA who had a time of 2: 06: 84 and was also way behind of Ethel Basel of the USA on 2:06:18, Megan Nay of Australia on 2:07:42, Anastasia Zueva of Russia on 2:07: 88 and Alexianne Castel of France on 2:08: 24 who had better times in the other semi final grouping.
Coventry is bidding to become only the third woman swimmer in Olympic history to win three successive Olympic gold medals. The others are Dawn Fraser of Australia who won in 1956, 1960, and 1964, as well as Hungarian Krisztina Egerszegi who took golds in 1988, 1992, and 1996.
Zimbabwe are still to win a medal at the 2012 Olympics and all hopes are now on Coventry producing her past form and give the country her first medal as neighbours South Africa are leading Africa with three gold medal so far.
Coventry, a former Dominican Convent student has made it clear that this is her last Olympic Games after winning three medals in Athens in 2004 and four medals at the last Games in Beijing.
The Zimbabwean swimmer, probably the greatest so far at the Olympics has already failed in her bid for medals in the 100 metre backstroke and the 200 metre Individual Medley.
Post published in: Athletics