Kirsty Coventry has been elected as the first female and African president of the IOC, winning 49 votes against six male candidates including Lord Coe. She will succeed Thomas Bach on June 23 and is the youngest president in IOC history. Coventry aims to promote diversity within the organization as she leads into the Milano-Cortina Winter Games in February 2026.
Kirsty Coventry has made history by becoming the first female and African president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), triumphing over six male candidates, including Britain’s Lord Sebastian Coe. The 41-year-old former swimmer, who has earned two Olympic gold medals, garnered a majority of 49 out of 97 votes in the first round of voting on Thursday, far surpassing Lord Coe’s eight votes.
As Zimbabwe’s sports minister, Coventry will succeed Thomas Bach, who has led the IOC since 2013. She will take office on June 23 and will be the youngest individual to hold this prestigious position in the IOC’s 130-year history. Coventry’s first Olympic event as president will be the Milan-Cortina Winter Games in February 2026.
Coventry expressed that her election sends a significant message, asserting, “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.”
Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr. was the runner-up with 28 votes, while David Lappartient from France and Japan’s Morinari Watanabe received four votes each. Both Prince Feisal al Hussein of Jordan and Sweden’s Johan Eliasch received two votes.
Coventry, who already serves on the IOC executive board and was considered a favored candidate by Bach, becomes the 10th person to hold the IOC presidency and is guaranteed to serve for at least eight years. Notably, she has contributed significantly to Zimbabwe’s Olympic achievements, winning seven of its eight Olympic medals, including two golds in the 200m backstroke at the 2004 and 2008 Games.
Reflecting on her journey, Coventry remarked, “The young girl who first started swimming in Zimbabwe all those years ago could never have dreamed of this moment.” She expressed pride in being the inaugural female IOC president and the first from Africa.
Kirsty Coventry’s historic election as the first female and African president of the IOC marks a pivotal step toward gender equality and diversity within the organization. Her experience and commitment to inclusivity will be vital as she assumes leadership. Coventry’s profound accomplishment serves as an inspiration for future generations in sports and beyond, reflecting a more globalized and diverse Olympic movement.
Original Source: www.thisdaylive.com
