Zimbabwe competed at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, UK from 27 July to 12 August 2012. This was the nation's ninth consecutive appearance at the Olympics, after gaining its independence from the former Rhodesia.
The Zimbabwe Olympic Committee (ZOC) sent the nation's smallest delegation to the Games. A total of seven athletes, four men and three women, competed in four different sports. Swimmer and defending Olympic champion Kirsty Coventry was Zimbabwe's greatest highlight to the Games, and the most successful athlete in Olympic history. She won a total of seven Olympic medals (two gold, four silver, and one bronze) in both backstroke and individual medley events, and broke both an Olympic and a world record. Because of her repeated successes in swimming, Coventry became the nation's first female flag bearer at the opening ceremony. On 11 August 2012, Coventry was elected to the IOC Athletes' Commission, along with three other athletes.
Zimbabwe, however, failed to win a single Olympic medal for the first time since 2000, following Coventry's sixth-place finishes in two of her sporting events. Meanwhile, long-distance runner Cuthbert Nyasango also missed out of the medal standings, after finishing seventh in the men's marathon.
Athletics
Zimbabwean athletes achieved qualifying standards in the following athletics events (up to a maximum of 3 athletes in each event at the 'A' Standard, and 1 at the 'B' Standard):
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
Men AthleteEventFinalResultRankWirimai JuwawoMarathon2:14:0915Cuthbert Nyasango2:12:087
Women AthleteEventFinalResultRankSharon TavengwaMarathon
Rowing
Zimbabwe qualified two boats.
Men AthleteEventHeatsRepechageQuarterfinalsSemifinalsFinalTimeRankTimeRankTimeRankTimeRankTime RankJames Fraser-MackenzieSingle sculls7:16.835 R7:19.854 SE/Fcolspan=2 7:33.813 FE7:46.4930
Women AthleteEventHeatsRepechageQuarterfinalsSemifinalsFinalTimeRankTimeRankTimeRankTimeRankTime RankMicheen ThornycroftSingle sculls7:47.103 Qcolspan=2 7:56.664 SC/D7:51.021 FC8:07.5214 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; Q=Quarterfinals; R=Repechage
Swimming
Zimbabwean swimmers achieved qualifying standards in the following events (up to a maximum of 2 swimmers in each event at the Olympic Qualifying Time (OQT), and potentially 1 at the Olympic Selection Time (OST)):
Women AthleteEventHeatSemifinalFinalTimeRankTimeRankTimeRankKirsty Coventry100 m backstroke1:00.2415 Q1:00.3914Did not advance200 m backstroke2:08.143 Q2:08.326 Q2:08.186200 m individual medley2:10.512 Q2:10.938 Q2:11.136
Triathlon
Zimbabwe has qualified the following athletes.
AthleteEventSwim (1.5 km)Trans 1Bike (40 km)Trans 2Run (10 km)Total TimeRankChris FelgateMen's18:090:4359:360:3434:511:53:5352
References