adminSWIMMING sensation and multiple Olympic medallist, Kirsty Coventry, feels the country’s sports have regressed and has urged administrators to be bold in bringing back the glory years. In an inspirational talk to school children at the United States Public Affairs Embassy Section in Harare on Tuesday, Coventry, Zimbabwe’s most decorated sports personality, seemed disappointed by the status of the country’s sports.
“We have a lot of talent but we have to find the correct ways of harnessing our talent.
A lot of that comes down to communication between administrators and athletes,” said Coventry.
Once a strong contender in sports such as football, cricket and tennis, Zimbabwe has fallen due to various problems, among them lack of adequate funding and poor administration. Coventry, however, seemed positive.
“It is something that people in the federations are working on but we have a big gap and have fallen behind,” she said.
“They realise we have a big gap our sports was quite high and now we have fallen behind and now trying rebuild. Take one step at a time but do not be afraid to take the big decisions.
“My advice to administrators is not to be afraid of taking the big step even if it means having small representations at first as long as we maintain our standards.”
Coventry captured the imagination of the world and Zimbabweans in general following a stunning performance at the Athens Olympics in 2008. President Mugabe led the tributes, describing her as a “great national heroine and ambassador” after her stunning three-medal Olympic success.
Coventry’s heroics came exactly 24 years after the country last won an Olympic gold medal.
Before her heroics, the last gold medal to be won by Zimbabwe at the Olympics was by the women’s field hockey team’s triumph at the 1980 Games in Moscow, Russia.
The Olympic heroine said she would probably retire after the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
“I am preparing hard for Rio and will likely retire after that to concentrate of the Kirsty Coventry Academy to nature young talent,” she said.
“We are looking at having our first representation at the Tokyo Olympic in 2020.” — NewZimbabwe.com
Online Reporter