adminZIMBABWEAN swimming queen Kirsty Coventry is set to lead the nation’s swimming team at this year’s All Africa Games in Congo Brazzaville, the Zimbabwe Aquatic Union has confirmed.
ZAU president Marry Kloppers last week revealed that the 31-year-old Coventry will be part of a “strong” Zimbabwean team at the Games happening in September.
“I would like to say so, Kirsty will be participating, we will (also) have a strong male contingent,” she said.
Kloppers said qualifying for next year’s Rio Olympics will the major target for most of the local swimmers this year.
“Preparations started in September last year and are ongoing. (The preparation) is built into all our elite swimmers programmes that have the ultimate goal of participating at the Rio Olympics in 2016,” she said.
Coventry scooped four individual gold medals and three silver medals in relays, at the last edition of the continental showpiece in Maputo four years ago.
Swimming was the country’s most rewarding discipline in Maputo, claiming 10 of Zimbabwe’s 15 medals.
Meanwhile, Zimbabwe Swimming Board of Control chairperson Lorna Riley revealed that the country will seek to have swimmers at the upcoming World Championships as efforts to make them gain international exposure continue.
“Our swimmers are out of the country attending meets all over the USA in an effort to qualify for the Kazan World Champs in July. They include Kirsty Coventry, Sean Gunn, Chad Idensohn, Tim Ferris and Tarryn Rennie.
“Locally James Lawson will be swimming in Durban next week at the South Africa National Champs. Robyn Lee is in Australia and is still recovering from the tendon tear in her shoulder which hampered her during the Region 5 games.
“We hope to have swimmers at the World Junior Champs in August in Singapore and swimmers involved in the All Africa Games in Brazzaville, Congo.
“After that we hope to have junior swimmers at the African Junior Swimming Champs in Egypt in October,” said Riley.
Online Reporter