Coventry, Hoelzer win medals

BEIJING — For the second night in a row, Auburn swimmers earned two medals in the same event at the 2008 Olympic Games on Monday night.

Kirsty Coventry (Zimbabwe) and Margaret Hoelzer (United States) finished second and third, respectively, in the women’s 100-meter backstroke to take two of the three medals in the event.

Coventry held second place from start-to-finish, going out in 28.92 seconds and coming back in 30.27 for a time of 59.19. The time is almost a half second short of the world record time of 58.77 she swam in the 100m back semifinal Sunday night.

Hoelzer was in fifth place at the turn, going out in 29.02, but did not see much of a drop off on the second half of the race, clocking a 30.32 split to come in with a time of 59.34.

For Coventry, it is her fifth career Olympic medal, her third career silver medal and her second medal of the 2008 Olympics.

She also earned silver earlier in the week in the 400m individual medley.

The bronze is Hoelzer’s first career Olympic medal and comes in the weaker of her two events. She will compete in the 200m backstroke, an event she holds the world record in.

Hoelzer was the second of two Americans in the top three as Natalie Coughlin won the gold medal with a time of 58.96.

The medals are the fourth and fifth of the 2008 Olympics for Auburn swimmers.

Coventry turned right around after her silver medal performance Monday and set an Olympic record in the 200IM semifinal.

Coventry finished with a time of 2:09.53, more than a second faster than her nearest competitor.

The final for the 200IM will be held Tuesday night.