Zimbabwe sends Crimson Tide to Athens

AUBURN, Ala. — Kirsty Coventry, Brendan Ashby and Kim Brackin will travel from Alabama to Greece, all in the name of Zimbabwe.

Auburn’s Coventry and former Alabama swimmer Ashby represent the South African country’s entire swim team for the Athens Games. Brackin, an Auburn assistant, will be their coach.

“It’s very cool,” Coventry said, referring to the all-Alabama team.

Even cooler: The 2000 Olympian and NCAA 200-meter backstroke champion is a legitimate contender for Zimbabwe’s first swimming medal.

Coventry, a five-time NCAA runner-up, won her first individual title by setting a meet record in the 200 backstroke. She also topped Natalie Coughlin of California, a three-time NCAA Swimmer of the Year who had never lost a race in college.

Coventry and Ashby have been training on campus with their respective college coaches. Brackin will coach them in Greece.

“It’s a great opportunity for Auburn and myself personally and for Kirsty and Zimbabwe that everything just fell together very well,” Brackin said.

Ashby made considerable strides, shaving about 1 1/2 seconds from his time in the 100 backstroke as a senior last season.

His coach, Eric McIlquham, said Ashby focused on adding strength and endurance the past year.

“He’s really been aggressive in the types of training he’s done,” McIlquham said. “He’s been more of a student of the game this year than I think he had been in the past.”

Coventry and Ashby were on the same club team in Zimbabwe, where they both lived before coming to the United States for college. Her best friend and his brother both swim for LSU.

This won’t be the first time Brackin has traveled overseas for Coventry. She spent three days in Zimbabwe during the recruiting process. Coventry said plenty of schools recruited her, but Brackin was the only one to make that trip.

“It’s absolutely paid off,” Brackin said. “She’s one of the best swimmers in the history of the program.

“It was a very unique experience. It’s a beautiful country. The people were real nice. There’s a lot of racial stratification … a lot of overt poverty.”

Coventry takes comfort in having her regular coach with her in Athens.

“I’m really excited that she’s going to coach me all the way through and I won’t have any ups and downs and other stuff to worry about,” she said.