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Africa’s Most Decorated Olympian Excited For Rio 2016

Africa’s Most Decorated Olympian Excited For Rio 2016

Zimbabwean swimmer Kirsty Coventry is Africa’s most decorated Olympian, having won seven individual medals at the Olympic Games during her illustrious career.

Zimbabwe has never been a particularly successful nation at the Olympics, but golden girl Coventry has been a shining star in the pool for the southern Africans since she was a teenager, earning her place as the continent’s most decorated Olympian.

She will be making her final appearance at the Games this August in Rio, when she attempts to add to her medal haul, as she stands one medal away from being the first female swimmer ever to win eight individual medals.

At the moment Coventry shares a piece of history with Hungary’s Krisztina Egerszegi, who won seven medals during her time in the pool.

Inevitably, comparisons have been drawn between the 32-year-old and all-time Olympic record holder Michael Phelps from the US.

The American swimmer also started his Olympic career in Sydney in 2000, and will end his incredible love affair with the Games in Rio this year.

Coventry has been earning medals at the multi-sport event for the last 16 years, and now has a final shot at adding to her tally while cementing her place in the record books.

Final Games for Africa’s most decorated Olympian

Coventry is going to the Olympics for the fifth and final time and she’s swimming for one more little slice of history in the Rio de Janeiro pool.

Phelps has the all-time Olympic record with his medal haul of 22, but Coventry needs one more podium finish at her last Olympics to be the first female swimmer to win eight individual medals.

The two-time gold medallist in the 200-meter backstroke is aware that Rio 2016 will be incredibly competitive.

“The field of swimmers is so strong right now, it’s crazy. I remember saying how strong it was in London (in 2012), but Rio will be even more so,” Coventry told the Daily Mail.

“Making the Olympic team is a huge accomplishment, going to five Olympics is incredible. But winning this number of medals in a sport that is not strong in Africa is unbelievable,” she explained.

When asked about the problems that Brazil has been experiencing ahead of the Games, Coventry explained her confidence in the South American host country.

“Brazil are going to put on a great show. It’s going to be an awesome Olympics with some outstanding performances and I can’t wait to get there,” she said.

“It’s always been about a desire to make the Olympic team and represent my country,” Africa’s most decorated Olympian added.