Kirby's nerves used to get to her, but the Stroudsburg senior learned how to harness them and help her become great.

who is believed to have lobbied heavily for her in the closing days of the race. Africa’s most decorated Olympian, Harare-born Coventry enjoyed a glittering career as a swimmer before ...

was as a swimmer in the 1968 ... And stress is a big part of that, and anxiety before the race and feeling sick to my stomach. And you just learn how to accept that as part of the overall experience.

"I always have nerves before a race," Kirby said ... It wasn't always like that for the record-breaking swimmer, however. Head coach William Conklyn, who's known Kirby since she was young ...