Record-breaking Coventry wins fourth gold

Record-breaking Coventry wins fourth gold

CHAMP: World beater Kirsty shows off her gong in Manchester

• Coventry sets 400m 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

ZIMBABWE'S Kirsty Coventry broke her third world record of the week on her way to winning a fourth gold medal at the world short-course championships here Saturday.

Coventry smashed American Allison Wagner's 200m Individual Medley record, which was the oldest short-course world record at 15 years, by 1.66 seconds to set a new best of 2:06.13.

In an exciting session of finals, the Netherlands 4x100m freestyle team also set a new world record of 3:29.42 on their way to gold, beating the previous best by nine tenths of a second.

American Ryan Lochte set a new world record of 51.25 in the semi-final of the men's 100m individual medley - his third world best of the event.

Elsewhere, Jessica Hardy of the United States added the 100m breaststroke title to her 50m crown and compatriot Peter Marshall took gold in the men's 50m backstroke final, with Australian Adam Pine winning a first individual title of his career with a gold in the 50m butterfly.

But it was the performance of Coventry, who was the only swimmer representing her country at the event, that continued to captivate as she took on the United States and Australia teams in the medals table on her own.

Coventry held off the impressive Spaniard Mireia Belmonte, who also beat the old record by 0.32 seconds, in the 200m medley.

"I knew it was possible to win these medals before I came here, but I never dreamed I would do this well," Coventry said.

"Swimming well on the first day got me really fired up and I just went from there. I hope I can go into Beijing and just keep the ball rolling." - AFP

WATCH VIDEO OF KIRSTY COVENTRY TALK ABOUT POSITIVITY

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