With three silvers, Coventry vows to get gold at Beijing Olympics
13/8/2008 18:13
With three silver medals dangling in front chest, Zimbabwe's Kirsty
Coventry vowed in Beijing today that she would "definitely" go all out for gold
in Beijing.
"It was good. But I am a little bit disappointed. It was so
close," a smiling Coventry said after losing the women's 200-meter individual
medley to Australia's Stephanie Rice by 0.14 seconds.
Coventry lost to Rice
in the women's 400 individual medley Sunday and was beaten by Natalie Coughlin
yesterday in the women's 100 backstroke.
"It is a little heartbreaking,"
Coventry said. "I don't take any thing away from the silver medal. It's such an
accomplishment at the Olympics. But I am definitely going for the gold at the
backstroke."
Having won three medals in Athens, including one gold, one
silver and one bronze, Coventry, by herself, placed her country on the Olympic
swimming medal table. Her medals were also the first individual Olympic medals
in Zimbabwe's history.
When she returned to Zimbabwe after the Athens, she
was hailed as a national treasure. Many new babies were named Kirsty, with the
middle name of Coventry, in her honor, while others were even called 'Goldmedal'
or 'Threemedals'.
Coventry grew up in Zimbabwe and her parents and many
relatives are still living in Zimbabwe. But the simmer herself has been studying
and training in the United States over the years.
"As everyone knows, it's
pretty tough back home right now. I think sport is kind of taking a little bit
of the back seat. But I am excited to be here representing Zimbabwe. Hopefully,
it could get people back home especially the youngsters back home excited about
sports," said Coventry, who speaks English with an American accent.
Coventry
said she will return home after the Olympics and visited some schools.
"Hopefully, we'll find some good talents and get them to the right places. I
hope there are some future Kirsty Coventrys coming up."
Tomorrow, Coventry
will start swim her signature event, 200-meter backstroke, which is also her
last chance to get a gold in the Beijing Games.
"That gold medal is going to
be hanging over my lane every time I get into swim. So it's definitely my goal,"
said Coventry, who won the gold in Athens.
Xinhua
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