“I will be competing at Rio2016 Olympics,” that’s the bold statement from Zimbabwe swimming icon Kirsty Coventry.
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And in order to do that successfully, Coventry on her Facebook wall yesterday, said she has started building up a team that would take her to the next level.
“This Olympics will be about how far I can push myself — it will be about finding the next level. To do this, I need to be confident. I am confident.
“We have already started building the ultimate team to assist me in getting to that next level. Econet Wireless and Arena International have given me their support and will help ensure I can focus on my goals.
My coaches are David Marsh (head coach at SwimMac Team Elite) and Kim Brackin (personal coach: 2004, 2008, 2012 Olympics). I will be based in Charlotte, North Carolina, United States and training with the swimmers at SwimMac Team Elite.
“I have purposefully surrounded myself with this team because they believe in me and together we will get there,” she said. At the 2012 Olympics in London, Coventry finished third in the semi-final heat of the 200m individual medley, just edging her into the final, where she placed sixth with a time of 2:11,13secs.
In 200m backstroke, she finished outside the medals in sixth place with a time of 2:08,18secs. Last year, she was elected to the IOC Athletes’ Commission. She will serve as an IOC member for eight years.
