Kirsty Coventry has been elected as the first female and African president of the IOC, securing 49 out of 97 votes. She will replace Thomas Bach on June 23 and will be the youngest president in IOC history. Coventry emphasized the importance of diversity in her leadership and has a rich Olympic legacy, holding seven of Zimbabwe’s eight medals.
Kirsty Coventry has made history by being elected as the first female and African president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), triumphing over six male candidates, including Lord Sebastian Coe from Britain. At 41, the former swimmer secured a majority of 49 out of 97 votes in the first round of voting, while Coe received only eight votes. As Zimbabwe’s sports minister, Coventry will take over the role from Thomas Bach on June 23 and will be the youngest president in the IOC’s 130-year history.
With her election, Coventry is set to lead the IOC into a new era, marking her first Olympics at the Milan-Cortina Winter Games in February 2026. Coventry stated, “It’s a really powerful signal. It’s a signal that we’re truly global and that we have evolved into an organisation that is truly open to diversity and we’re going to continue walking that road in the next eight years.”
Runner-up Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr received 28 votes, while David Lappartient of France and Morinari Watanabe from Japan both garnered four votes. Prince Feisal al Hussein of Jordan and Sweden’s Johan Eliasch managed two votes each. Coventry is already a member of the IOC executive board and was considered to be the favorite of outgoing president Thomas Bach.
Over her career, Coventry has earned seven of Zimbabwe’s eight Olympic medals, including gold medals in the 200m backstroke at the 2004 and 2008 Olympics. Reflecting on her achievement, she noted, “The young girl who first started swimming in Zimbabwe all those years ago could never have dreamed of this moment. I am particularly proud to be the first female IOC president, and also the first from Africa.”
Kirsty Coventry’s election as the first female and African IOC president is a historic milestone that emphasizes the importance of diversity in leadership positions within global sports organizations. Her trajectory from a swimmer to the top of the IOC is a beacon of hope for aspiring athletes and leaders, particularly women and those from underrepresented regions. As she prepares to lead the IOC for at least eight years, Coventry’s vision for a more inclusive and global organization signifies a pivotal shift in Olympic governance.
Original Source: www.thisdaylive.com
