Kirsty Coventry through to semis

London - Zimbabwean swimming sensation Kirsty Coventry is through into the semi-finals of the women's 200m backstroke after registering a time of 2.08:14 minutes in her heat at the 2012 London Olympic Games on Thursday.

Coventry will be on lane 3 after registering the third fastest time in the qualifying heats. She came after two American swimmers, Missy Franklin who clocked 2:07.54 and Elizabeth Beisel who managed 2:07.82.

Coventry is the two-time defending gold medalist and current world record-holder in the 200m back.