Coventry in line for top world honour

Coventry in line for top world honour

ROYAL WELCOME: Zimbabwe's Olympic champion Kirsty Coventry arrives home from the Beijing Olympics

• Coventry gives away $100,000 prize to charity

• Mugabe awards Kirsty Coventry US$100,000

• Coventry parade brings Harare to a standstill

• Olympic champion Coventry set for royal welcome

• Zimbabweans debate fitting honour for Coventry

• Your Shouts: Kirsty Coventry's Beijing heroics

• Obie Madondo: Kirsty Coventry for President

• Coventry takes gold with record breaking swim

• Coventry eyes gold after chalking up third silver

• Coventry wins second silver medal for Zim

• 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

Posted to the web:29/12/2008 23:06:07
ZIMBABWEAN swimmer Kirsty Coventry has been honoured for her Olympic heroics with a nomination for the World Sports Woman of the Year award, a week after being named Zimbabwe’s 2008 Sportsperson of the Year.

Coventry won three silver medals and a gold at the Beijing Olympics in August. She also won four titles in Manchester - three in world-record times - plus a bronze medal, to put Zimbabwe fourth overall, behind the US, Australia and the Netherlands in the World Short-Course Championships in June.

She is on a short list of 12 athletes from around the world which includes tennis ace Serena Williams.

The annual Athlete of the Year ballot - covering all sports - is organised by the United States Sports Academy.

Coventry has spoken of her pride in representing Zimbabwe.

"It's a great honour to represent my country. It's a great achievement for everyone,” she said in June after her heroics in Manchester. "Things aren't that good (in Zimbabwe). I take any opportunity I can to raise our country's flag really high and get some shining positive light on things over there. My family, friends and parents are still there. I know how much it does for people back home."

Not one to dabble in politics, Coventry has stressed the importance of political stability in the country in order for everyone to live their dreams.

“Everyone there including President Mugabe knows something needs to change because so many people are hurting. I hope that does happen. I know that's part of why I'm doing what I do. I hope it makes a difference and gives people back home hope that things will change for the better.

"People have to remain positive and believe in those dreams. It's really important."

The female nominees are: Rebecca Adlington (United Kingdom - swimming); Kirsty Coventry (Zimbabwe - swimming); Tirunesh Dibaba (Ethiopia - track and field); Yalena Isinbayeva (Russian Federation - track and field); Guo Jingjing (China - diving); Nastia Liukin (United States - gymnastics); Lorena Ochoa (Mexico - golf); Candace Parker (United States - basketball); Paula Radcliffe (United Kingdom - marathon); Lindsey Vonn (United States - skiing); Chrissie Wellington (United Kingdom - triathlon) and Serena Williams (United States – tennis)
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