-
Coventry: First gold
Also see
Zimbabwe's Kirsty Coventry finally claimed gold at the Beijing Olympic Games, winning the 200m backstroke in a world record time of 2 minutes 05.24 seconds as Britain's Lizzie Simmonds faded down the last length to finish sixth.
Simmonds was third at the halfway mark behind Coventry and American Margaret Hoelzer but was passed by Japan's Reiko Nakamura who took bronze before sliding further back as a she approached the wall to finish in 2 minutes 08.51 secs.
Pressure
"I think going into any race there is always a little bit of pressure," she said. "My coach (Kim Brackin) and I were sitting together before the race and she was like 'just go in and have fun'."
"It is such a relief, I am so excited. I am thrilled with the time. I'm really loving what I'm doing. "I wanted to swim fast and from the feeling of wanting to throw up, I think I've done it.
"I am so thrilled. The plan was to go in and put everything on the line and see what I have to go home with. I'm excited to hear the national anthem play and for everyone back home to hear it."
Coventry's win was her first gold of the games after three second-placed finishes earlier in the swimming programme.
Simmonds' effort was a personal best and a new British record, and she said afterwards: "It would've been great to get in the medals but I'm really excited to have swam that fast in an Olympic final."
The gold hands Zimbabwe their first swimming medal in Beijing, and their fourth overall.
