Collin Matiza
HAVING been retained as Zimbabwe’s Minister of Sport by President Mnangagwa on Monday, the country’s swimming icon Kirsty Coventry has got another date with destiny on September 30.
Coventry will be recognised for her remarkable achievements as an Olympic Games swimmer by being inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame during the 58th Annual Hall of Fame Induction and Specialty Awards ceremony.
This year’s ceremony will be held at Lillian S. Wells at The Parker in the City of Lauderdale in Florida, United States.
The Induction Ceremony will be hosted by Dara Torres, a 12-time Olympic medallist.
The honorees will share their Olympic stories in their own words while the event includes special presentation to each of these aquatic greats.
Record Olympic medals winner, Michael Phelps, is also among those set to be inducted.
Coventry (39) is an International Olympic Committee (IOC) member who is being tipped as a prospective future candidate for the IOC presidency.
The seven-time Olympic swimming medallist is the most decorated Olympian in any sport from Africa.
She and Krisztina Egerszegi share the record for the most individual Olympic medals in women’s swimming.
Announcing Coventry’s induction, the International Swimming Hall of Fame (ISHOF) recently said:
“Kirsty Coventry is the most decorated Olympian from the continent of Africa. And not just in swimming, in ALL sports.
“She has competed in five Olympic Games, from 2000-2016, and she won all but one of Zimbabwe’s Olympic medals.
“In total, she won two gold, four silver and one bronze Olympic medals, all individual. She is a four-time world champion and five-time World Record holder.
“She is a 22-time medallist at her native All-Africa Games, 14 of which were gold. And to show her versatility, the events ran from the 50 to 800m freestyle, to the breaststroke events, IM and her signature backstroke.”
She also served in roles with World Aquatics and the World Anti-Doping Agency.
Coventry will be remembered for her multi-event talent and enduring legacy as a major factor in international competitions.