Kirsty Coventry for Zimbabwe President

By Obie Madondo

Nelson Mandela recently bemourned the traggic failure of leadership in Zimbabwe. During the March election opposition leader, Morgan Tsvangirai beat long-time President and tyrant, Robert Mugabe, but failed to secure a 50-plus margin to secure the presidency. Robert Mugabe "won" the June re-run, in which he he was the sole candidate, after Tsvangirai had boycotted the vote. Now the two Zimbabwean leaders are locked in a battle for supremacy, without any guarantee that an agreement will be reached any time soon, if at all.

Why not compromise and surrender the esteemed office to one Zimbabwean who has proved beyond any reasonable doubt that she's qualified for the job: recording-busting swimming superstar, Kirsty Leigh Coventry.

As the New York Times recently put it, “Coventry’s performances in the pool have been a steady source of good news for Zimbabwe.” For the last ten years, Zimbabwe has suffered tremendously under the brutal dictatorship of Robert Mugabe. Through a combination of sporting excellence and diplomacy, Coventry has consistently raised the Zimbabwean flag and given Zimbabweans something to smile about.

Sporting Excellence
In 2000, while still attending the Dominican Convent High School in Harare, Zimbabwe, Coventry became the first Zimbabwean swimmer to reach the semifinals at the Olympics and was named Zimbabwe's Sports Woman of the Year.Coventry bagged 1 gold and 3 silver medals at the Beijing Olympics. To date, she has amassed 7 Olympic medals and more than 20 gold, silver and bronze medals in World Championships, All-Africa Games and other international competitions.

This phenomenal run started at the Athens Olympics in 2004. Coventry won a full set of medals: gold in the 200m backstroke; silver in the 100m back; and bronze in the 200m individual medley. This was the first time Zimbabwe won an Olympic medal since 1980. Coventry returned home to a riotous and hero’s welcome. She was hailed as a “national treasure” and greeted at the airport by beating drums, traditional dancers and hundreds of fans screaming and waving banners. As if to immortalize her triumph, many new babies were given her first name, often with the middle name of "Coventry". Many other were simply named "Gold Medal".

Even Robert Mugabe, considered by critics to be racist, could not help celebrating Coventry’s undeniable power. He called her "a golden girl" and hosted a reception for her, presented her with a diplomatic passport and “pocket money” to the tune of US$50,000.Zimbabweans put aside racial tensions aside to celebrate a true hero! At the 2005 World Championships in Montreal, Canada, Coventry grabbed 4 medals: gold in both the 100m and 200m backstroke and silver in the 100m and the 200m individual medley. Although she was the only swimmer from Zimbabwe, her performance allowed her country to rank third in the medal count by nation.

Diplomacy
Coventry’s commitment to Zimbabwe is unquestionable. Throughout her international career she has repeatedly had to deal with an international media relentlessly soliciting inflammatory and divisive statements on the escalating political crisis in Zimbabwe. She recently told Reuters news agency: "I strongly believe that athletics and politics should not mix. I just need to be proud that I get to compete for and represent my country and that's it. What I love is seeing people back home feeding off my success, and giving them something to cheer for."

This, undoubtedly, is the language that unites and heals. It’s the language of diplomacy. If there is a better Zimbabwean out there, especially in this difficult time in Zimbabwe, please, let me know!

Here are a few more words of wisdom from Kirsty:

"I wanted to take care of this one, no matter what I will go down fighting," Beijing, 2008, just before bagging the gold.

“As everyone knows, it's pretty tough back home right now. I think sport is kind of taking a little bit of the back seat. But I am excited to be here representing Zimbabwe. Hopefully, it could get people back home especially the youngsters back home excited about sports."

"I take any opportunity I can to raise our country's flag really high and get some shining positive light on things over there (Zimbabwe)."

"I am getting a really good reception from the people back home.""It was awesome to have my flag raised; it's huge for the people back home."

"Oh my gosh, people back home are so excited. I have been getting cards and text messages. " "I try not to think about it (political situation) too much other than as a positive thing to get people excited back home. It doesn't feel like pressure, it feels like an opportunity to get people excited and happy, to give them something to enjoy."

THE MEDAL COUNT:

2008 Olympics:
Gold in the 200m Backstroke (2:05.24 WR)
Silver in the 400m IM (4:29.89 AR)
Silver in the 100m Backstroke (59.19)
Silver in the 200m IM (2:08.59 AR)

2007 World Championships:
Silver in the 200m backstroke (2:07.54)
Silver in the 200m IM (2:10.74) 2007

All-Africa Games:
Gold in the 200m IM (2:13.02 CR)
Gold in the 400m IM (4:39.91 CR)
Gold in the 50m freestyle (26.19)
Gold in the 800m freestyle (8:43.89 CR)
Gold in the 50m backstroke (28.89 AR)
Gold in the 100m backstroke (1:01.28 CR)
Gold in the 200m backstroke (2:10.66 CR)
Silver in the 100m breaststroke (1:11.86)
Silver in the 4x100m medley (4:21.60 NR)
Silver in the 4x200m freestyle (8:38.20 NR)

2005 World Championships:
Gold in the 100m backstroke (1:00.24)
Gold in the 200m backstroke (2:08.52)
Silver in the 200m IM (2:11.13)
Silver in the 400m IM (4:39.72)

2004 Olympics:
Bronze in the 200m IM (2:12.72)
Gold in the 200m backstroke (2:09.19)
Silver in the 100m backstroke (1:00.50)