Zimbabwe's swimming sensation Kristy Coventry won her seventh personal gold to conclude her brilliant performance at the All-Africa Games on Wednesday.
She first beat her teammate Heather Brand to win the women's 50m freestyle, then dominated the 200m medley in two minutes 13.02 seconds, well beyond the reach of South Africa's Jessica Pengelly who finished in 2:17.79.
The 23-year-old talent, who had bagged five golds before the last day's swimming competition, seemed overwhelmed by her own scintillating show.
"I didn't expect to be swimming at this time, so I am very excited," she told Xinhua.
Her feat meant very much not only to her, but also to Zimbabwe which won seven golds at this games, all contributed by Conventry.
"It is a really important games for people back home and I certainly try my best to make sure everybody is proud," said Coventry who lives and trains in the United States.
"She is a superstar here, absolutely beyond comparison," said South Africa's swimming coach Karoly von Toros.
"No doubt she will be a hot favorite in the Beijing Olympic Games," he said.
Coventry said she will return to the United States to prepare for next year's Olympic Games.
"My times here showed that I am on track for the Olympics, and my goal is when I get the big meets like Olympics, I can keep getting faster and better my personal best time," she added.
But Coventry could not stop formidable South Africa from capturing the bulk of golds up for grabs.
The South African swimmers proved unstoppable in the women's 400m freestyle, men's 100m backstroke, men's 1,500m freestyle and the concluding event of women's 4X100m medley, fulfilling their pre-games target to win 25 golds out of 40 at stake.
Kenya's Jason Dunford claimed the gold in the men's 200m butterfly, and Algeria's Salim Iles finished first in the men's 50m freestyle to win his second personal gold at the games.
In the athletics opening competition of the men's 3,000m steeplechase, Kenya reigned supremacy as they did over the last eight editions of the All-Africa Games.
Willy Komen sprinted past his countryman and the Olympic champion Ezekiel Kemboi, who seemed to have run out of steam before the finish, to claim the gold in eight minutes and 15.11 seconds.
Ethiopia's stranglehold on the women's 5,000 meters proved unshakable when they finished one-two to win their country's first gold at the games.
Olympic champion and world record holder Meseret Defar defended her title at the games after coming home first in 15:2.72 seconds, 1.14 seconds before her countrywoman Melkamu Meselech.
Egypt's Omar El Ghazaly also succeeded in defence of his gold in the men's discus with a throw of 62.28 meters. Sudan took the taste of their first gold at the games after their renowned jumper Yamile Aldama won the women's triple jump with 14.46 meters.
The confusion about the medals table lingers on as Egypt press claimed that their delegation have won 32 golds, 37 silvers and 27 bronzes, but according the official website, the figures are 24, 32 and 31.
According to the official sources, Algeria remained atop the medals table with 48 golds, followed by South Africa with 39 golds. Tunisia still lie at the third place with 32 golds.
Source: Xinhua
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