Zimbabwe sent a team to compete at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China.
Zimbabwe sent thirteen athletes to Beijing, competing in swimming, athletics, tennis, cycling, triathlon, and rowing."Coventry leads Zimbabwe medal drive towards Beijing Olympic Games", Xinhua, 19 July 2008 Kirsty Coventry, who won gold in swimming at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, was the lone member of the delegation to medal.
Medalists
Medal Name Sport Event Date Kirsty Coventry Swimming Women's 200 m backstroke 16 August Women's 400 m individual medley 10 August Women's 100 m backstroke 12 August Women's 200 m individual medley 13 August
Athletics
Seven Zimbabweans competed in athletics, with the best finishes being a pair of fourth-places. One came from Brian Dzingai, in the men's 200 metres. Dzingai was the top qualifier in the heats and semifinals, but in the final, he originally placed 6th, before two disqualifications moved him up to 4th. The other came from Ngonidzashe Makusha in the men's long jump. Makusha qualified in 5th, and sat in 2nd place after the first three jumps. He was passed by one opponent on the fourth attempt, and then lost a medal by a single centimetre on the last round of jumps.
Men Track & road events AthleteEventHeatQuarterfinalSemifinalFinalResultRankResultRankResultRankResultRankLewis Banda400 m46.766colspan=2 Did not advanceBrian Dzingai200 m20.251 Q20.231 Q20.172 Q20.224Mike FokoroniMarathoncolspan=6 2:13:1711Cuthbert Nyasango10000 mcolspan=6 Young Talkmore Nyongani400 m45.896colspan=2 Did not advance
Field events AthleteEventQualificationFinalDistancePositionDistancePositionNgonidzashe MakushaLong jump8.145 Q8.194
Women Track & road events AthleteEventFinalResultRankTabitha TsatsaMarathon2:37:1049
Key Note–Ranks given for track events are within the athlete's heat only Q = Qualified for the next round q = Qualified for the next round as a fastest loser or, in field events, by position without achieving the qualifying target NR = National record N/A = Round not applicable for the event Bye = Athlete not required to compete in round
Cycling
Mountain biking Antipas Kwari represented Zimbabwe in cycling, and was the last finisher in the men's mountain bike race, a full lap behind the next-to-last finisher.
AthleteEventTimeRankAntipas KwariMen's cross-country (6 laps)48
Rowing
Elana Hill managed to qualify from her opening heat, but finished last in her quarterfinal and her semifinal, ending up in 25th.
Women AthleteEventHeatsQuarterfinalsSemifinalsFinalTimeRankTimeRankTimeRankTime RankElana HillSingle sculls8:35:533 QF8:20:846 SC/D8:34:276 FE8:09:9425 Qualification Legend: FA=Final A (medal); FB=Final B (non-medal); FC=Final C (non-medal); FD=Final D (non-medal); FE=Final E (non-medal); FF=Final F (non-medal); SA/B=Semifinals A/B; SC/D=Semifinals C/D; SE/F=Semifinals E/F; QF=Quarterfinals; R=Repechage
Swimming
Kirsty Coventry managed to improve on her three-medal performance from Athens, repeating her gold medal in the 200-metre backstroke and her silver in the 100-metre backstroke, and adding silver medals in the 200-metre and 400-metre individual medleys. She also set a world record in her 100 backstroke semifinal, which was not broken in the final, and won the 200 backstroke with another world record. Her team-mate Heather Brand did not advance from the heats.
Women AthleteEventHeatSemifinalFinalTimeRankTimeRankTimeRankHeather Brand100 m butterfly1:01.3942Did not advanceKirsty Coventry100 m backstroke59.00 1 Q58.77 1 Q59.19200 m backstroke2:06.76 1 Q2:07.761 Q2:05.24 200 m individual medley2:12.183 Q2:09.53 1 Q2:08.59 AF400 m individual medley4:36:437 Qcolspan=2 4:29.89 AF
Tennis
Cara Black, representing Zimbabwe for the third time in Olympic tennis, lost her only match in straight sets.
AthleteEventRound of 64Round of 32Round of 16QuarterfinalsSemifinalsFinal / OppositionScoreOppositionScoreOppositionScoreOppositionScoreOppositionScoreOppositionScoreRankCara BlackWomen's singlesL 3–6, 3–6Did not advance
Triathlon
Chris Felgate ran the triathlon for Zimbabwe. He finished the swim with the main pack, but fell behind in the cycling and running portions.
AthleteEventSwim (1.5 km)Trans 1Bike (40 km)Trans 2Run (10 km)Total TimeRankChris FelgateMen's18:210:2859:000:3336:091:54:31.6142
References
Official 2008 Summer Olympics Results Website