Kirsty Coventry, the Zimbabwean swimming legend, made history on Thursday by becoming the first woman and African to be elected president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), calling it an “extraordinary moment.”
At 41, Coventry, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, is also the youngest person ever to hold the highest position in global sports governance.
She succeeds Thomas Bach, who steps down after 12 years in the role, and Coventry expressed her commitment to working with the six other prominent candidates she defeated in the election.
“This is an extraordinary moment. As a nine-year-old girl, I never imagined standing here one day, giving back to this incredible movement,” said Coventry.
“This is not only a tremendous honor but also a reminder to all of you that I will lead this organization with great pride and uphold the values at its core.”
“I will make all of you very proud and, I hope, instill complete confidence in the decision you’ve made today. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
Though Coventry was widely believed to be Thomas Bach’s preferred candidate, the race was expected to be tight, especially with IOC veteran Juan Antonio Samaranch Junior and World Athletics president Sebastian Coe among the contenders.
However, to the surprise of many, Coventry secured a decisive victory in the first round of voting, garnering 49 out of 97 votes. Samaranch Junior received 28 votes, while Coe, a two-time Olympic 1500m champion, managed just eight.
For both Samaranch Junior, 65, and Coe, 68, the dream of becoming IOC president is now over.
Despite running a lower-profile campaign compared to her more established rivals, Coventry’s lobbying proved so effective that even a seriously ill IOC member flew in specifically to vote for her.
While some critics had raised concerns about her role as Zimbabwe’s Sports Minister, particularly in light of her government’s 2023 election, which was deemed undemocratic by many, these issues did not significantly affect her support within the IOC.
Coventry will now face complex geopolitical challenges, including Russia’s potential return to the IOC fold following its invasion of Ukraine, and navigating the unpredictable leadership of U.S. President Donald Trump as Los Angeles prepares to host the 2028 Summer Games.
Despite these challenges, Coventry emphasized her desire to collaborate with all her rivals and to bring their ideas into her leadership approach.
“We have some work to do together,” she said.
“I want to thank all the candidates. This was an incredible race, and it has made us stronger as a movement. From all the conversations I’ve had, I know our movement will be stronger when we unite to deliver on the ideas we all shared.”
