Coventry sets 400 individual medley world record

Coventry sets 400 individual medley world record

• Kirsty smashes venerable 200m backstroke record

• Coventry wins 7th All Africa Games gold

• Coventry claims 2 gold medals at All Africa Games

• It's Kirsty again!

• Mugabe gives Coventry diplomatic passport

• Zim rolls out red carpet for Coventry

• Your shouts on Coventry's victory

• Coventry unites nation

• Mugabe leads tributes after Coventry stunner

• Zimbabwe heroine Coventry wins Olympic gold

• Heroine Coventry clinches second medal for Zim

• Coventry wins Olympic silver

By Sports Reporter

ZIMBABWE'S Kirsty Coventry smashed the world record as she struck gold on a thrilling opening day at the World Short-Course Championships here on Wednesday.

Coventry produced a magnificent performance to win the 400m individual medley in a breathtaking 4:26.52 to raise the roof in Manchester.

It comfortably beat the previous record of 4:27.83 posted by the Ukraine's Yana Klochkova six years ago.

Coventry finished ahead of Great Britain's Hannah Miley, who set a new European record of 4:27.27 to claim silver while Spain's Mireia Belmonte won bronze.

Coventry's performance capped a stunning day by the African, who earlier had dipped under 58 seconds for the first time in the women's 100m backstroke to lead the semi-final round.

She clocked a time of 57.99 during the second heat to smash her previous record time of 58.41 set during the heats. The performance also eclipsed the championship record of 58.02 set by last meet's champ Janine Pietsch of Germany in 2006.

"I can't wait for the Olympics" said Coventry.

"The world record has really set me up well for Beijing." - AFP
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