HARARE - Zimbabwe swimming icon Kirsty Coventry will tie the note with long-time boyfriend Tyrone Seward on August 10 this year, she announced on Friday.

The former Olympic champion and world record holder got engaged to Seward during the London Olympic Games in August.

The two opted for a traditional African culture marriage ceremony, with 31-year-old Seward expected to pay lobola at the Coventrys.

Coventry, who turned 29 recently, has been dating Seward for three years.

“Our wedding will be on August 10, 2013. Wow, it’s going to be a busy year,” Kirsty tweeted, adding: “Our wedding will be in Zimbabwe and although we haven’t decided on the venue, it will be kept quiet.”

Kirsty confirmed to the Daily News on Sunday yesterday that the wedding date was symbolic.

“I’m very excited. Our wedding date is also the same with the date Tyrone proposed to me at a friend’s house after my swimming event at the Olympics.”

The 29-year-old added that she and her Chinhoyi-born and bred hunk understood and value African customs.

“We have been following social media, Tweeter and Facebook,” she said.

“Some people are very excited about the whole thing and some don’t understand.

“But at the end of the day we are Africans, we belong to our country and this is something we both want. This is how we want to start our marriage.”