BEIJING (AFP) — Zimbabwean swimmer Kirsty Coventry captured her second silver medal of the Beijing Olympics Tuesday, and said she hoped her performance brought some cheer amid the tension in her homeland.
"Oh my gosh, people back home are so excited. I have been getting cards and text messages," Coventry said.
Coventry won a full set of Olympic medals in Athens, claiming gold in the 200m backstroke, silver in the 100m back and bronze in the 200m individual medley.
She was feted as a hero in her homeland, and while she makes her training base in the United States she said she was happy to carry the expectations of Zimbabwe, which has been in crisis since this year's disputed elections, marred by violence, returned President Robert Mugabe to power.
"I am getting a really good reception from the people back home," Coventry said. "I try not to think about it 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."
Coventry, who won silver in the 400m individual medley on Sunday, had set the world record of 58.77 in the semi-finals of the 100m backstroke.
Although she was disappointed she couldn't match that time in the final, she said she couldn't be unhappy with a silver medal.
"I went a bit fast in the first 50 metres, which took its toll which was a bit silly on my behalf," she said.
Coventry was predicting a tight race in the 200m medley, which will include Americans Coughlin and Katie Hoff as well as world record-holder Stephanie Rice of Australia.
"The 200m individual medley will be super close, there are some big names in there," she said.
In the meantime, the busy swimmer was looking forward to having an afternoon off.
"My aunt and uncle arrived yesterday with three big envelopes of cards and best wishes, so I am so excited to get the rest of the day off and hang out with them," she said.
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