Arena has added another great champ to its list of signings: Kirsty Coventry, the US-based Zimbabwean Olympic 200m backstroke champion of 2004 and 2008 and Olympic and world medley medallist too, has joined the Italian suitmaker's stable of fastest fish in a deal that stretches beyond London 2012 to 2013.
"I am thrilled to have signed a new deal with Arena," said Coventry. "Its great to be associated with a leading aquatic brand. I am training at the moment in South Africa and have enjoyed my time here and the change of environment has been beneficial to me."
Coventry, 27 and the most versatile woman swimmer ever to come out of Africa, was the first swimmer to break a world record wearing the controversial Speedo LZR Racer. Before the advent of suits made of polyurethane, the 200m backstroke world record had stood at 2:06.62 to legendary Krisztina Egerszegi (HUN) since August 25, 1991. On February 16 2008, Coventry started the ball rolling in the shiny suits era with a 2:06.39 effort. Non-textile suits and bodysuits have been banned since January 1 this year.
Coventry, under the guidance of coach Kim Brackin, had proved herself many times over long before the arrival of kit that Arena was fundamentally opposed to when the LZR made its debut. In the suit wars that ensued, Arena emerged champion with a 100% poly X-Glide that emerged as the most successful suit at the world championships in Rome last summer in the week that followed FINA's decision to return the sport of swimming to swimmers.
Beyond her triple medal success at the 2004 Olympic Games and a stellar NCAA career with Auburn Tigers, Coventry claimed both 100m and 200m backstroke world crowns at Montreal in 2005 as well as silver medals in both medley finals. In 2008, Coventry retained the Olympic 200m backstroke crown and took three silvers, in the 200m and 400m medley behind Stephanie Rice (AUS) and in the 100m backstroke behind Natalie Coughlin (USA) after having set the world record in semis.
Last year, at the height of the shiny suit circus, Coventry claimed the world crown over 200m back in a world shiny suit record of 2.04:81.
"We are extremely honored and truly happy to welcome a great swimmer like Kirsty in our team," said Giuseppe Musciacchio, Marketing Director at Arena. "She is an amazingly talented athlete, who has already demonstrated her unique value in all the most challenging competitions. She has a great image, stature and credibility in the swimming world, it’s difficult to think of a better ambassador for the Arena brand world-wide."
