HARARE - A Harare magistrate has heard how swimming sensation Kirsty Coventry bravely fought a group of robbers who smashed her car as she made her way home from the airport.

Kirsty, an Olympic gold medallist, yesterday appeared in court as a complainant after one of the robbers, who are also turning out to be vagrants, was charged with theft.

Magistrate Musaiona Shortgame remanded the man in custody, 35-year-old Marlvin Mushonga, to May 8.

Prosecutor Crispen Mavengano told the court that Kirsty was on her way home with some of her family members, travelling along Glenara Road in Harare’s Eastlea area on April 27.

Mavengano said that while at the intersection of Glenara Avenue and Robert Mugabe Way, Mushonga and four accomplices approached the car Kirsty was travelling in.

One of the gang members allegedly smashed the back window and grabbed bags.

But Kirsty wrestled with one of the robbers from inside the car and sustained a cut on her palm.

Other family members jumped out of the car as Mushonga and his accomplices fled the scene, the court heard.

Tyrone Seward, Kirsty’s husband, gave chase and caught up with Mushonga whom he took to the police with the assistance of other motorists, the court heard.

One of the bags contained an Apple laptop, I-phone 4 mobile phone, clothes and other electric gadgets worth $5 600. - Helen Kadirire