The Sunday Mail
KIRSTY COVENTRY was never going to last forever. Every day brought us closer to the moment when Zimbabwe’s swimming queen would call it a day. That time has come.
Coventry is calling time on a glittering career and leaves the pool as the greatest Olympian Africa has ever seen.
“I’m extremely humbled and excited to have felt so much love and support last night,” she posted on her Twitter handle last weekend after the 200m backstroke final; a race that was to be her last Olympic event.
“Over the years you have been my inspiration, you have helped me to stay focused, to stay strong and to stay true to who I am.
“I feel a great peace leaving the ‘competing world’ that has taken not just me but all of us to such high places and I can’t wait for what is to come next. Thank you, tatenda, ngiyabonga! All my love, Kirsty.”
It is a season of farewells.
Not only was this Coventry’s last Olympic outing, it was also the swansong for United States swimmer Michael Phelps and 100 and 200m sprint sensation Usain Bolt.
In Phelps’ case, the news of his retirement is to be taken with a pinch of salt as he has retired and comeback before, and Bolt could still have one left in the chamber.
But for the soon-to-be 33 Coventry, this really is it.
While the US and Jamaican mourn the exit of Phelps and Bolt, Zimbabwe is celebrating Coventry.
The word “greatest’ is one of the most clichéd terms in sports today, but it is the only word that aptly describes Coventry.
Outside the Olympics, she is a seven-time world champion, former world record holder, 11-time All-Africa Games queen and two-time Commonwealth champion.
It is, however, in the Olympics that the name Coventry is revered and spoken, not in hushed tones, but loudly and proudly.
Zimbabwe has only eight medals at the Olympics and seven of them belong to Coventry. The only other was won by the women’s hockey team at the 1980 Moscow Games.
What’s more, Coventry has more Olympic medals than any other African athlete in history. Globally, she is tied with Hungary’s Krisztina Egerszegi at 29th place among the greatest Olympians ever.
As Coventry closes this chapter of her life, many personalities have come out to pay tribute to Zimbabwe’s golden girl.
First in line is husband Tyrone Seward.
“Kirsty’s decision to retire is her decision and I support it fully,” Seward told The Sunday Mail. “She did not retire because of injury or as a failure – she is calling time on her career on her own terms and on a high note. Coming sixth in the World in her fifth Olympic Games is huge!
“Many people fail to qualify for a single Olympics, so this is an amazing achievement not only Zimbabwe can celebrate but one the whole of Africa can rejoice in.”
Team Zimbabwe chef de mission to Rio, Titus Zvomuya, says Coventry has been a true ambassador, a worthy holder of a diplomatic passport.
“As the ZImbabwe Olympic Committee and as Kirsty’s last chef de mission, I feel so privileged to have had her in our team,” said Zvomuya. “She is indeed a great role model who is passionate about her sport and her country. I want to wish her the best in the next chapter of her career. She is somebody who is a great sport person, a real professional in whatever she does.”
