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Kirsty strikes gold!
08 Sep 2015 at 20:25hrs | Views
Olympic champion Kirsty Coventry has just bagged Zimbabwe's first gold medal in the 100m backstroke at the 11th African Games in Congo Brazzaville today.
Coventry kept the South Africans from winning every swimming event on the third day of competition at the All-Africa Games.
Coventry, the two-time Olympic champion in the 200 backstroke, kept Karin Prinsloo at bay in the 100 back final with a 1:01.15. Coventry has been faster this year, with a 1:00.09 from the world championships last month. She also missed her meet record of 1:00.86 from 2011. Prinsloo was second in 1:02.53. Teammate Jessica Ashley-Cooper earned another medal in Brazzaville with a 1:03.32 for third.
Coventry managed the best time in the morning heats of the 100m backstroke with a time of 1.02.20sec.
Her time was ahead of that of two South African medal contenders Pinslon Karin and Jessica Ashley Cooper, raising hopes of a possible medal if she maintains the form tonight.
This is Coventry's third All Africa Games appearance, having already competed at the 2007 and 2011 editions. She holds an impressive five meet records across the 50m/100m/200m backstroke and the 200m IM and 400m IM events.
Coventry recently qualified for her fifth Olympic Games, securing her spot in Rio with her 100m backstroke time of 1:00.09 at the World Championships in Kazan.
Coventry kept the South Africans from winning every swimming event on the third day of competition at the All-Africa Games.
Coventry, the two-time Olympic champion in the 200 backstroke, kept Karin Prinsloo at bay in the 100 back final with a 1:01.15. Coventry has been faster this year, with a 1:00.09 from the world championships last month. She also missed her meet record of 1:00.86 from 2011. Prinsloo was second in 1:02.53. Teammate Jessica Ashley-Cooper earned another medal in Brazzaville with a 1:03.32 for third.
Coventry managed the best time in the morning heats of the 100m backstroke with a time of 1.02.20sec.
Her time was ahead of that of two South African medal contenders Pinslon Karin and Jessica Ashley Cooper, raising hopes of a possible medal if she maintains the form tonight.
This is Coventry's third All Africa Games appearance, having already competed at the 2007 and 2011 editions. She holds an impressive five meet records across the 50m/100m/200m backstroke and the 200m IM and 400m IM events.
Coventry recently qualified for her fifth Olympic Games, securing her spot in Rio with her 100m backstroke time of 1:00.09 at the World Championships in Kazan.
Source - Byo24News
