Zimbabwe Rewrites own Sports History by Sending First Black Swimmer To The Olympics

Her country is 99% black, and it's taken until 2021 for a black swimmer to represent Zimbabwe at the Olympics By Associated Press Zimbabwe this week re-wrote a piece of its own sporting history by sending a Black swimmer to the Olympics, the first from her country to go the Games. Seventeen-year-old Donata Katai won African youth titles and broke youth records once held by two-time Olympic champion Kirsty Coventry, who is not only Zimbabwe's most successful swimmer but also Africa's most decorated Olympian. Tokyo probably came too early for the teenager to succeed Coventry in the way she really wants, by stepping onto the Olympic podium. But, for now, Katai does represent a deeper breakthrough for Zimbabwe. Her country is 99% Black and it's taken until 2021 for a black swimmer to represent Zimbabwe at the Olympics. Simone Manuel's gold medal in the 100-meter freestyle at the last Olympics in Rio de Janeiro was a seminal moment for Black swimmers.