Kirsty Coventry continued her impressive form in Europe on Saturday when she captured the women’s 400m individual medley title at the International Open Swimming Trophy also known as the Sette Colli Trophy meet held in Rome, Italy.
The 27-year-old swimming sensation won the event in 4 minutes 38,18 seconds with Italy’s Stefania Pirozzi finishing second in 4 minutes 40,48 seconds for 14th in the world rankings, while South Africa’s Kathryn Meaklim touched third in 4 minutes 43,42 seconds.
Coventry’s winning time was a shade slower than the 4 minutes 37,21 seconds she posted in May, which is the fourth-best time in world in the 400m Individual medley event, according to a respected swimming publication Swimming World.
The seven-time Olympic medallist, who was using the gala as part of her preparations towards next month’s FINA World Swimming Championships in Shanghai, was scheduled to take part in the 200m backstroke and individual medley events later yesterday before returning to her training base in South Africa.
Coventry has been in top form for the past two weeks she has been in Europe.
Only last weekend she won three silver medals at the Mare Nostrum Grand Prix series in Monaco prior to going to Rome. Coventry was last week named among the three swimmers who will represent Zimbabwe at the 14th FINA World Swimming Championships in Shanghai next month together with another female swimmer Nicole Horn and Tim Ferris.
The 14th FINA World Championships will take place in Shanghai, China from July 24-31.
Coventry will be out to defend her 200m backstroke title she won in Rome two years ago. She will also compete in the 200 and 400m individual medley events and the 100m backstroke events.
