complishment, going to five Olympics is incredible, she wrote. But winning this number of medals in a sport that is not strong in Africa is unbelievabble.ddddddddddddLike Phelps, she m

TORONTO -- Jose Reyes impending return to the Toronto Blue Jays lineup is coming at a nearly perfect time. Manager John Gibbons said on Friday that as the all-star shortstop was rehabbing with Torontos triple-A team in Buffalo, N.Y., the Blue Jays were putting themselves in a position to welcome him back. "The talk has been since he went down, amongst us, amongst (the media) that if we can get back to .500 by the time he gets back then thats pretty good," said Gibbons. "Were close to doing that. I mean, were not there yet, but that could happen and then he just adds to it." Toronto ended up moving to .500 later in the evening after a 7-6 victory over Baltimore. The result was the Blue Jays ninth straight win and improved the teams record to 36-36. Reyes was hitting .395 with a home run, five runs batted in, five runs and five stolen bases in 10 games when he sprained his left ankle on April 12. "Hes one of the premier players in the game. Just all the different things he can do," said Gibbons. "I know everyone will be glad to get him back, regardless." On Wednesday Gibbons suggested that Reyes may be back as soon as Monday when Toronto plays the Rays in Tampa Bay. He didnt sound as certain on Friday. "Its not too far off. Well see how he does this weekend, well kind of see where were at." Added Gibbons: "Hes going to play nine innings tonight (Friday), nine tomorrow and then Sundays a day game, so thatd be his first day game after a night game. "(Friday) will be a good test -- nine innings -- and definitely after (Saturday)." Gibbons told media on Friday that Reyes would play all three minor league games in the field. "We got to make sure hes good and ready," said the manager. Reyes will reclaim the leadoff spot in Torontos batting order when he returns. "Hell definitely be at the top, were not sure what were going to do after that yet," said Gibbons. Gibbons wasnt concerned about any kind of expectations affecting Reyes performance. "I dont think he feels any pressure. I dont think hes that kind of player," said Gibbons. "He just goes out there and has fun. Excels, you know. One guy cant do it all. One guy can make a big difference, but one guy alone cant. "But he can make a nice difference." Although Torontos been rolling in its last 14 games, winning 12, Gibbons was upbeat about Reyes return. "Hes a key part of this team. When he went down he was doing it all," said Gibbons. "But I tip my hat to the guys thatve filled in, (Munenori) Kawasaki in particular, done a great job. He really has. Coming out of nowhere, done a lot of good things for us." Kawasaki was signed by the Blue Jays to a minor-league contract on March 14. He was then called up to Toronto on April 13 to sub in for the injured Reyes. Hes hit .219, with 14 RBIs, 18 runs and seven stolen bases in 56 games. Kawasaki made a strong case for staying with Toronto later Friday when he hit his first major-league home run that tied the game at six, prompting fans to chant his name in Kawasakis next at-bat. "Hes added a lot off the field, in the clubhouse. The teammates love him, the fans love him. You cant help it," said Gibbons of Kawasaki. "And hes contributed big time on the field. Some key hits here or there, good fundamental baseball, made some nice defensive plays, stolen some bases. "Hes a heads-up player, does everything right. Doesnt mean hes going to get the job done every time, but he does everything right. Hes definitely done a tremendous job for us." Cheap Nike Baseball Jerseys . Olli Jokinen, Mark Scheifele, and Bryan Little each had a goal and an assist as Winnipeg won 5-2, handing Calgary its record-setting seventh consecutive loss on home ice. Wholesale Nike MLB Jerseys . 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HARARE, Zimbabwe -- The African with the most Olympic medals is one of the great distance runners from Kenya or Ethiopia, right?Nope.Its a swimmer from Zimbabwe.Like Michael Phelps, Kirsty Coventry is going to the Olympics for the fifth and final time, and shes swimming for one more little slice of history in the Rio de Janeiro pool.Phelps has the all-time Olympic record with his medal haul of 22, but Coventry needs one more podium finish at her last Olympics to be the first female swimmer to win eight individual medals.Its not an arbitrary stat. It underlines how Coventry, from a southern African nation with very little Olympic success (apart from hers, that is) has done it all by herself. No help from relay teammates to boost that medal count.Zimbabwe has won eight medals in total at the Olympics, and seven of them have been provided by Coventry, the two-time gold medalist in the 200-meter backstroke. The countrys only other medal is a womens field hockey gold won during the boycotted 1980 Games in Moscow.Shes already Africas best at the Olympics. As for the other mark, Coventry is level on seven individual swimming medals with Hungarys Krisztina Egerszegi. Rio is the last chance to edge ahead of Egerszegi. Coventry is 32, on her way out, knows it, and can make light of it.Whos the swimmer to watch at the Rio Games?Me! she responded.Joking.In all seriousness the field of swimmers is so strong right now, its crazy, Coventry wrote in an email exchange. I remember saying how strong it was in London (in 2012), but Rio will be even more so.Of them all, Coventry rates Americans Camille Adams and Katie Ledecky highest.Camille Adams ... she will get you out of your chairs when she is racing. And then there is Katie Ledecky. She will blow your mind. They are the whole package: hard working, competitive, confident, talented, beautiful and filled with positive energy and kindness.Coventrys been pretty good, too, basically representing her country at the Olympics single-handedly over the last 16 years, and ending up with more Olympic medals than any other African athlete. In the pool, too, not on the running track, normally the most fertile ground for African athletes.Making the Olympic team is a huge accomplishment, going to five Olympics is incredible, she wrote. But winning this number of medals in a sport that is not strong in Africa is unbelievabble.ddddddddddddLike Phelps, she made her Olympic debut as a teenager in Sydney in 2000. And theyll finish at the same time. In Rio, Coventry will focus on her favorite race and the one thats brought her two Olympic golds, the 200 backstroke. Shes also qualified in the 100 backstroke and 200 individual medley.Is there one more medal in there somewhere? Itll be tough. She didnt manage to get on the podium in London four years ago.Coventry grew up around swimming and the Olympics. She remembers watching the 92 Games in Barcelona on TV and telling her parents she wanted to go to the Olympics. She went to the Sydney Olympics while still at high school. She broke through in Athens with the first of her back-to-back Olympic titles. She went to Auburn University in Alabama, winning NCAA swimming championships while she studied. She was desperately grateful for an Olympic scholarship that helped her prepare for Beijing. She also broke the world records in the 100 and the 200 backstroke.Makes sense, then, that she stays around sport and the Olympic movement. Coventry is now a member of the International Olympic Committee and serves on the IOC and World Anti-Doping Agencys athletes commissions. She has clear opinions on the big issues affecting the Olympics right now.On the Russian doping scandal, Coventry said: This is a huge embarrassment for Russia and the Russian authorities are responsible ... there is a higher level of dishonesty at play. This is a warning to any country, coach, parent and athlete that is doping or considering doping: it does not matter who you are and it may not happen today, but you will get caught, and you will become an embarrassment to your friends and family.And on the Zika virus and the problems it has presented for the Rio Olympics, Coventry said she never once considered skipping the games. Brazil are going to put on a great show. Its going to be an awesome Olympics with some outstanding performances and I cant wait to get there.Onto the last Olympics for Africas best Olympian and, ideally, one last medal. 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