SW Radio Africa
By Tichaona Sibanda
1 August 2012
Kirsty Coventry finished a disappointing sixth in the final of the 200-metre individual medley at the London 2012 games on Tuesday night.
However, the country’ swimming superstar still has a chance to grab the elusive 8th Olympic medal when she takes part in her strongest race, the 200-metre backstroke. Heats for that race begin on Thursday.
Coventry, the 2008 Olympic silver medalist in the medley event, clocked a time of 2:11.13, finishing more than 2 seconds behind the sensational Chinese swimmer Shiwen Ye.
She still has time to redeem herself by trying to win a third straight Olympic gold in her favored 200m backstroke. Coventry is the two-time defending gold medalist and current world record-holder in the 200m backstroke with a time of 2.05.24.
Another Zimbabwean Olympian, James Fraser-Mackenzie, came third in the second semifinal of the men’s single sculls at Eton Dorney on Tuesday, putting him out of contention for a medal.
Apart from Coventry, Zimbabwe still have five athletes with a chance of winning a medal at the London Games. These are female rower Micheen Thornycroft, triathlete Chris Felgate and three marathon runners, Wirimayi Juwawo, Cuthbert Nyasango and Sharon Tavengwa.