Harare, Zimbabwe - Zimbabwe's state newspaper says star Olympic swimmer Kirsty Coventry is giving some of a US$100 000 (about R811 000) gift from President Robert Mugabe to local charities.
Mugabe gave the nation's Olympians a total of US$148 000 last month, even as international aid agencies warned more than half the country's population faces hunger.
The Herald newspaper on Friday quoted the president of the Zimbabwe Aquatic Union, Kathy Lobb, as saying Coventry has made several cash donations to local charities including one for the elderly and one for cancer victims. The swimmer lost two grandparents to cancer.
The paper said Coventry asked Lobb not to say how much of the money she has given away.
Coventry won one gold and three silver medals at the Beijing games. - Sapa-AP