Coventry leads Zimbabwe medal drive towards Beijing Olympic Games

HARARE, July 19 (Xinhua) -- Kirsky Coventry, the icon of Zimbabwean swimming, will once again lead the country's medal hunt at this year's Olympic Games next month.

Coventry, the current world women's 200m backstroke record holder, became Zimbabwe's heroine when she grabbed one gold, one silver and one bronze medals at the Athens Games in 2004.

This phenomenal achievement ended Zimbabwe's 24-year wait for an Olympic medal since the women's hockey team won the first gold medal at the Moscow Games in 1980, according to Saturday's The Herald.

And Coventry was once again given the responsibility of bringing more glory to the nation at this year's Olympics when she was named in the 13- member Olympic squad that will do duty for the country in Beijing.

Also named in the team is Coventry's fellow United States-based swimmer Heather Brand.

The two swimmers will be joined by five track and field athletes, two marathon runners, one female tennis player, a male mountain bike cyclist, a male triathlete and a female rower.