It’s still game on for Kirsty Coventry

Sport
IT'S nearly two years since Kirsty Coventry was last involved in competitive swimming, but the four-time Olympian feels her career is far from being over

IT is now close to two years since Kirsty Coventry was last involved in competitive swimming, but the four-time Olympian feels her career is far from being over.

BY MICHAEL MADYIRA

The 30-year-old has not hit the pools since the 2012 London Olympic Games where she failed to garner any medal largely owing to a dislocated kneecap and a bout of pneumonia that hampered her preparations.

She took a break that saw her missing last year’s World Championship in Barcelona.

“I had decided to take some time off,” said Coventry.

“I am young, fit and full of energy. I have more than a few years left. My training will change quite a bit.”

Concerning the next race she will take part in, Coventry chose to play her cards close to her chest.

“Keep watching this space,” she said.

Although she also has not come out in the open on whether she would contest at next year’s World Championships in Russia, she has availed herself for the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Having last won medals at the Beijing 2008, she still harbours chances of adding to the seven Olympic medals she has so far.

“With Africa behind me, everything is achievable,” she said.

“I believe it and I am going to work hard for it. That is the beauty about sport and business. We all have a great chance to be successful but these chances can only be increased by the amount of effort one puts in. I will be putting in 100% effort.”

In another interview with Standardsport in February, she said, “If I can come sixth in two of my races competing against the best in the world at the London 2012 Olympics after dislocating my kneecap and getting pneumonia both within four months of the Games, imagine what I can do with a great lead up to Rio. I am pumped to compete at the Rio 2016 Games.”

Marriage life seems to be taking its toll on the athlete, who appears to have gained some kilos.

“I haven’t gained any weight, I’m fit, healthy and feeling really good about myself,” she said.

While she has taken off competing, Coventry has been heavily involved in International Olympic Committee (IOC) Athletics Commission business where she is a member of that body.

“I have been travelling quite a bit with my role as an International Committee Member. I have also been keeping a low profile so that I can focus on a few of the business projects that I have on the go without neglecting my training. It has been a great couple of months and I am really looking forward to the next two years.”