Kirsty Coventry
Biographical information
| Roles | Competed in Olympic Games • Other • Administrator |
|---|---|
| Sex | Female |
| Full name | Kirsty Leigh•Coventry (-Seward) |
| Used name | Kirsty•Coventry |
| Born | 16 September 1983 in Harare, Harare (ZIM) |
| Measurements | 176 cm / 64 kg |
| Affiliations | Auburn Tigers, Auburn, Alabama (USA) / Texas Longhorns, Austin (USA) |
| NOC |  Zimbabwe |
| Medals | OG |
| Gold | 2 |
| Silver | 4 |
| Bronze | 1 |
| Total | 7 |
Biography
Kirsty Coventry is Zimbabwe’s top Olympian, having won seven of the country’s eight Olympic medals to date. One of the world’s top backstroke and medley swimmers, she won three medals in the 2004 Olympics, including a gold in the 200 m backstroke. She retained that title in 2008, and has added four silver and one bronze medal to her tally. Coventry has also won three long course world titles, winning the 100 and 200 m backstroke in 2005 and her specialty event, the 200 m backstroke in 2009. At the 2008 short course World Championships, she triumphed in four events.
Coventry was elected as an Athlete member of the IOC in 2013. She served in that role until 2021 when she was upgraded to an Individual member of the IOC.
Results
Organization roles
| Role | Organization | Tenure | NOC | As | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Athlete | International Olympic Committee | 2013—2021 | ZIM |
Kirsty Coventry | |
| Executive Board Member | International Olympic Committee | 2018—2021 | ZIM |
Kirsty Coventry | |
| Individual | International Olympic Committee | 2021— | ZIM |
Kirsty Coventry | |
| Executive Board Member | International Olympic Committee | 2023— | ZIM |
Kirsty Coventry |
Other participations
| Games | Role | NOC | As | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 Summer Olympics | Flagbearer at the Closing Ceremony | ZIM |
Kirsty Coventry | |
| 2012 Summer Olympics | Flagbearer at the Opening Ceremony | ZIM |
Kirsty Coventry | |
| 2016 Summer Olympics | Flagbearer at the Opening Ceremony | ZIM |
Kirsty Coventry | |
| 2016 Summer Olympics | Flagbearer at the Closing Ceremony | ZIM |
Kirsty Coventry |
Special Notes
- Listed in Olympians Who Set a World Record in Long Course Swimming (100 m backstroke – 11 August 2008 - 27 July 2009: 58.77 (11 August 2008; Beijing, CHN); 200 m backstroke – 16 February 2008 - 5 July 2008 and 16 August 2008 - 3 August 2012: 2:06.39 (16 February 2008; Columbia, USA), 2:05.24 (16 August 2008; Beijing, CHN), 2:04.81 (1 August 2009; Roma, ITA))
- Listed in Olympians Who Set a World Record in Short Course Swimming (200 m backstroke – 11 April 2008 - 14 November 2009: 2:00.91 (11 April 2008; Manchester, GBR); 200 m medley – 12 April 2008 - 6 November 2009: 2:06.13 (12 April 2008; Manchester, GBR); 400 m medley – 9 April 2008 - 28 November 2008: 4:26.52 (9 April 2008; Manchester, GBR))
- Listed in Olympians Who Won a Medal at the World Aquatics Championships (3–5–0 2005 Montréal SWI gold: 100 m backstroke and 200 m backstroke, silver: 200 m medley and silver: 400 m medley; 2007 Melbourne SWI silver: 200 m backstroke and200 m medley; 2009 Roma SWI gold: 200 m backstroke, silver: 400 m medley)
- Listed in Olympians Who Won a Medal at the World Short-Course Swimming Championships (25 m) (4–0–1 2008 Manchester gold: 100 m backstroke, 200 m backstroke, 200 m medley, and 400 m medley, bronze: 100 m medley)
- Listed in Olympians Who Won a Medal at the British Empire/Commonwealth Games (1–0–0 2002 Manchester SWI gold: 200 m medley)