A Historic First as IOC's First Woman and African President

Kirsty Coventry has been elected as the tenth president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). This marks a historic moment, as she is the first woman and the first African to hold this position at the helm of the global Olympic movement.

The election took place during the 144th IOC Session in Greece. Over one hundred IOC members participated in the secret ballot. Coventry, aged 41, secured the victory in the initial round of voting. She is scheduled to assume her role after June 23, succeeding Thomas Bach, who has been president since 2013.

Coventry's term as president will span eight years, with the potential for a four-year extension.

Prior to her election, Coventry was a celebrated Olympic swimmer. She is one of Africa's most accomplished athletes, having earned seven Olympic medals, including two gold medals. She has been an IOC member since 2013 and previously chaired the IOC Athletes' Commission, where she championed athletes' rights and well-being.

During her campaign, Coventry, the youngest of the seven candidates, prioritized modernizing the Olympic movement. Her platform emphasized increasing youth engagement and strengthening the role of athletes in the IOC's decision-making processes.

She also highlighted the significance of digital transformation to make the Games more accessible and appealing to younger audiences. Furthermore, she stressed the importance of sustainability initiatives to ensure the long-term environmental and financial viability of the Olympic Games.

Since 2018, Coventry has served as Zimbabwe's Minister of Youth, Sport, Arts, and Recreation. In this role, she has focused on developing grassroots sports programs and expanding sports opportunities for young people throughout the country.