Harare – In a week of mixed emotions, Zimbabwe’s Minister of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation, Kirsty Coventry, has reason to celebrate on two fronts. As she was elected as the 10th president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in Greece, becoming the first woman and first African to hold the prestigious position, news filtered through from home that police had made significant progress in the investigation into the recent robbery at her parents’ Harare home.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) acted swiftly, and law enforcement sources have confirmed that the two brothers are due to appear in court this Friday, facing charges related to the home invasion. It has also been confirmed that police have recovered some of the stolen items.
The incident had prompted varied reactions on social media, with some Zimbabweans expressing surprise that the Sports Minister’s parents kept such a large sum of cash at their home. Others speculated that the robbery may have been an inside job. Others are wondering how the arrests have been effected so swiftly when many non high-profile criminal cases often go for months, if not indefinitely, without being solved.
The robbery occurred as Kirsty Coventry was preparing for her historic election to the IOC presidency. Her parents, Robert Edwin and Lyn Coventry, have been a constant source of support throughout her illustrious career, which has spanned swimming, politics, and sports administration.
Kirsty Leigh Coventry Seward was born in Harare on September 16, 1983. Her family has a deep connection to swimming, with her grandfather having served as the chairman of a swimming association and her parents actively involved in the sport. This nurturing environment ignited her passion for swimming at a young age, leading her to join a local swimming club at the age of six.
“When I was 9 years old I told my Dad I wanted to go to the Olympics and win Gold. He told me it would be a rough road ahead, he explained how difficult it was just to make the Olympic Team let alone win a medal, but he believed in me,” Kristy Coventry said, highlighting the unwavering support she received from her parents.
Her dedication and talent eventually led her to Auburn University in Alabama, USA, where she honed her skills and laid the foundation for her remarkable journey in competitive swimming. She assisted in leading Auburn University’s Tigers to the 2003 and 2004 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Championships. Later, the College Swimming Coaches Association named her the Swimmer of the Meet for her performance.
Coventry’s achievements in the pool are well-documented. She won three medals at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, including a gold in the 200-meter backstroke. Kirsty’s performance allowed her country to earn several medals in the World Championship. She also won Zimbabwe’s Sports Woman of the Year award in 2000 while still a high school student, making her the first swimmer from Zimbabwe to advance to the Olympic semifinals.
Beyond her sporting achievements, Coventry has also made a significant impact in politics. Under President Emmerson Mnangagwa, she was appointed Minister of Youth, Sport, Arts, and Recreation in Zimbabwe’s 20-member Cabinet on September 7, 2019.
Coventry was elected to the International Olympic Committee Athletes’ Commission in 2012 and served eight years. Kirsty Coventry graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Hotel and Restaurant Management from Auburn in 2006. She married Tyrone Seward, her manager since 2010, on August 10, 2013, and gave birth to their first child in May 2019.
