Kirsty Coventry for Swimming Hall of Fame

Kirsty Coventry, now Sports Minister, is a 22-time medalist

Zim Now Writer

The International Swimming Hall of Fame will, in September, welcome Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation Minister, Kirsty Coventry as she will be joining a star-studded class that includes American superstar Michael Phelps in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA.

In a statement dated March 15, the International Swimming Hall of Fame said Coventry is the most decorated Olympian from the continent of Africa not just in swimming but, in all sports.

“She and Kristina Egerszegi are tied for having won the most individual Olympic medals in women’s swimming. She has competed in five Olympic Games, from 2000-2016, and she won all but one of Zimbabwe’s Olympic medals. In total, she won two gold, four silver and two bronze Olympic medals, all individual.

“She is a four-time world champion, and five-time world-record holder. She is a 22-time medalist at her native All-Africa Games, 14 of which were gold. And to show her versatility, the events ran from the 50 to 800m freestyle, to the breaststroke events, IM and her signature backstroke events. Like Phelps, she could swim it all,” said ISHOF.

Coventry is joined in the class of 2023 by fellow swimmer Phelps, his career-long coach Bob Bowman, Paralympic star Trischa Zorn-Hudson, Missy Franklin, Kosuke Kitajima and Cesar Cielo, diver Wu Minxia, artistic swimmer Natalia Ischenko, water polo player Heather Petri, open-water swimmer Stèphane Lecat, coach Chris Carver and special contributor Sam Ramsamy.

She became the first Zimbabwean and so far, lone individual Olympic medalist, taking seven medals in the 2004 and 2008 Games.

Coventry is a swimming legend who retired after her fifth and final Olympic appearance at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

In addition to being named the country’s Youth, Sport, Arts, and Recreation Minister five years ago, the 39-year-old Zimbabwean swimming icon has also held various positions that include being a member of the IOC.