Coventry Reaches 200 Individual Medley Finals

Coventry finished third in her heat with a time of 2:10.93, good enough for the eighth and final qualifying spot in Tuesday evening’s final. She was 0,42 seconds off her time of 2:10.51 in the morning heats that earned her the second overall seed in the semifinals.

The 28 year had to set aside the disappointment of failing to grab a medal in the 100 metre backstroke in which she has won silver medals at both the 2004 and 2008 Olympic Games.

The four-time Olympian and seven-time Olympic medalist has won two career medals in the 200 metre Individual Medley, capturing silver in Beijing in 2008 and bronze at the 2004 Athens Games.

This was Coventry’s second event of the London Games. She advanced to the 100m backstroke semifinals Sunday before failing to make the final.

Coventry now focuses on the 200 metre Individual Medley final and her best and last event the 200 metre backstroke in what is probably her last Olympic participation.

The swimming sensation has won seven medals for Zimbabwe, three at the 2004 Games and four at the 2008 Beijing Games including gold medals in the 200 metre backstroke at both competitions.