Zimbabwe’s Kirsty Coventry was elected president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Thursday, becoming the first woman and first African to hold the role. Coventry is a five-time Olympian, winning seven medals (including two gold and four silver) during her swimming career, and is the most decorated Olympian from Africa.
The IOC posted on social media: “Kirsty Coventry was elected as IOC President, over fellow presidential candidates HRH Prince Feisal Al Hussein, David Lappartient, Johan Eliasch, Juan Antonio Samaranch, Lord Sebastian Coe and Morinari Watanabe.”
Voting took place at the 144th IOC Session in Costa Navarino, Greece. Also in the race were four presidents of sports governing bodies: track and field’s Lord Sebastian Coe; skiing’s Johan Eliasch; cycling’s David Lappartient, and gymnastics’ Morinari Watanabe, as well as Prince Feisal al Hussein of Jordan. Coventry received 49 of a possible 97 votes, with Samaranch finishing second with 28 votes.
Conventry said after the vote: “I am incredibly honored and excited to be elected as president of the International Olympic Committee. I want to sincerely thank my fellow members for their trust and support. The young girl who first started swimming in Zimbabwe all those years ago could never have dreamt of this moment. I will make all of you very, very proud and hopefully extremely confident in the decision you have taken. Now we have got some work together. I am particularly proud to be the first female IOC President, and also the first from Africa. I hope that this vote will be an inspiration to many people. Glass ceilings have been shattered today, and I am fully aware of my responsibilities as a role model. Sport has an unmatched power to unite, inspire and create opportunities for all, and I am committed to making sure we harness that power to its fullest. Together with the entire Olympic family, including our athletes, fans and sponsors, we will build on our strong foundations, embrace innovation, and champion the values of friendship, excellence and respect. The future of the Olympic Movement is bright, and I can’t wait to get started.”
Coventry has held several roles with the Zimbabwe government, World Anti-Doping Agency, International Surfing Federation and World Aquatics, and served as vice president of the Zimbabwe Olympic Committee. She also was a member of the IOC executive board.
Coventry will formally replace her mentor, outgoing IOC president Thomas Bach, on June 23 (officially ‘Olympic Day’) as the 10th IOC president in its 131-year history. Bach, 71, was first elected in 2013 and re-elected for a four-year term in 2021. He announced last month that he would not seek to extend his tenure. Coventry, 41, will then start an initial eight-year tenure.
Bach said in a statement: “Congratulations to Kirsty Coventry on her election as the 10th IOC president. I warmly welcome the decision of the IOC members and look forward to strong cooperation, particularly during the transition period. There is no doubt that the future for our Olympic movement is bright and that the values we stand for will continue to guide us through the years to come.”
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