Coventry wins second silver medal for Zimbabwe

Coventry wins second silver medal for Zimbabwe

FAITH: Zimbabwe's Coventry (left) looks on as gold medalist Natalie Coughlin wipes tears from her eyes after winning the 100m backstroke in Beijing on Tuesday, August 12

• Coventry breaks world record in 100m backstroke

• Coventry takes Olympic silver in 400m IM

• World breaking Coventry wins fourth gold

• 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

Last updated: 12/08/2008 10:50:42
ZIMBABWE’S Kirsty Coventry agonisingly missed out on a gold medal but still won silver in the 100m backstroke at the Beijing Olympics on Tuesday, a day after she smashed the world record in qualifying.

It was the Zimbabwean’s second silver medal after she also finished second in the 400m individual medley on Saturday.

Natalie Coughlin of the United States won gold in the 100-meter backstroke, becoming the first woman to ever defend her title in the event.

Coughlin finished in 58.96 seconds.

Coventry swam to the finish in 59.19. Another American Margaret Hoelzer took the bronze in 59.34.

Coventry had set the world record of 58.77.

Although she was disappointed she couldn't match that time in the final, she said she couldn't be unhappy with a silver medal.

"I went a bit fast in the first 50 metres, which took its toll which was a bit silly on my behalf," she said.

The medal is the fifth of Coventry's career as she won a full set of Olympic medals in Athens, claiming gold in the 200m backstroke, silver in the 100m back and bronze in the 200m individual medley.

Tuesday’s final was the second of four events for Coventry at the 2008 Olympics – which keeps her dream of winning gold very much alive.

Coventry said she hoped her performance brought some cheer amid the tension in Zimbabwe.

"Oh my gosh, people back home are so excited. I have been getting cards and text messages," Coventry said.

Coventry was feted as a hero when she returned home after her heroics in Athens, and while she makes her training base in the United States she said she was happy to carry the expectations of Zimbabwe, which has been in crisis since this year's disputed elections, marred by violence, returned President Robert Mugabe to power.

"I am getting a really good reception from the people back home," Coventry said. "I try not to think about it too much other than as a positive thing to get people excited back home.

"It doesn't feel like pressure, it feels like an opportunity to get people excited and happy, to give them something to enjoy."

Coventry was predicting a tight race in the 200m medley, which will include Americans Coughlin and Katie Hoff as well as world record-holder Stephanie Rice of Australia.

"The 200m individual medley will be super close, there are some big names in there," she said.

In the meantime, the busy swimmer was looking forward to having an afternoon off.

"My aunt and uncle arrived (on Monday) with three big envelopes of cards and best wishes, so I am so excited to get the rest of the day off and hang out with them," she said.
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