Zimbabwean swimmer Kirsty Coventry has not only given her politically beleaguered country something to smile about. She has also been Africa’s best athlete so far at the Beijing Olympics.
Three African countries have won five medals in three different disciplines, with Zimbabwe posting the outstanding results in garnering three silver medals. Algeria and Togo have one bronze apiece.
United States-based Coventry was first to climb the podium after winning silver in the 400m individual medley women’s final, won by Stephanie Rice of Australia in world-record time. Coventry was also inside the mark, setting an African record of 4:29,89.
Algerian judoka Soraya Haddad added an Olympic bronze to the clutch of medals won by her country at the 2007 All Africa Games in Algeria.
Haddad (23) beat Hortance Diedhiou of Senegal in a preliminary round before being overpowered by China’s Xian Dongmei, who went on to win gold for her country.
Benjamin Boukpeti of Togo became the first African to win a medal in the rather obscure single men’s kayak slalom.
Boukpeti, the winner of the 2008 African championships in Kenya in January, has made great strides since he was placed 15th in the last Olympic Games in Athens.