Zimbabwe’s Kirsty Coventry Elected First Woman President Of IOC

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Kirsty Coventry, a Zimbabwean, won the title of African woman and first woman to lead the International Olympic Committee on Thursday, calling it an “extraordinary moment.”

The 41-year-old Olympic swimming champion is also the youngest person to hold the most powerful position in sports governance.

The Zimbabwean sports minister will work with the six other heavyweight rivals she defeated to replace Thomas Bach, who will step down after 12 years.

After being elected during the 144th IOC Session on March 20, 2025, the next President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Kirsty Coventry (L), is congratulated by Moroccan ex-athlete Nawal El Moutawakel (R). On March 20, 2025, Kirsty Coventry of Zimbabwe was elected president of the International Olympic Committee. (Photo by Fabrice COFFRINI/AFP)

“This is a remarkable moment,” the author says. I never imagined that I would stand up here and contribute to this incredible movement,” said Coventry, a nine-year-old girl.

“I will lead this organization with such great pride, with the values at its core,” says one employee, “but it’s a huge honor.”

And I’m going to make each of you incredibly proud and, I hope, incredibly confident in your choice today.

“I want to thank you with all my heart.”

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Coventry, who was widely believed to be Bach’s preferred candidate, was reportedly competing against World Athletics chief Sebastian Coe, a veteran of the IOC, and Juan Antonio Samaranch Junior.

On the day of the election of the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) president, in Costa Navarino, Greece, on March 20, 2025, Zimbabwean Kirsty Coventry (R), in front of Director of Communications for the IOC, Mark Adams (L), addresses the audience. On March 20, 2025, Zimbabwe’s Kirsty Coventry was the first African to be elected president of the International Olympic Committee. (Photo by Angelos TZORTZINIS/AFP)

The race was over after the first round of voting, with 49 of the 97 IOC members voting in favor of her in general.

Two-time Olympic 1500-meter champion Coe and Samaranch Junior received 28 votes, and the latter received an humbling eight.

With Samaranch and Coe both now 65 and Coe 68, both of them have made their dreams of one day serving as IOC president.

Although she opposed Coe and Samaranch Junior, the legendary president’s son, in a covert media campaign, her lobbying was so successful that a seriously ill person accompanied her for the vote.

Concerning her role as a minister in a government whose 2023 election was deemed unfair and undemocratic, questions had been raised.

Despite her political difficulties, such as Russia’s potential return to prominence following the invasion of Ukraine, it had little of an impact on her electorate.

As Los Angeles hosts the 2028 Summer Games, she will also have to deal with the unpredictable US President Donald Trump.

Coventry, however, stated that she wanted to delve into their ideas and collaborate with all of her rivals.

She said, “We have some work to do together.”

“I want to express my sincere gratitude to all candidates,”

“This race was a fantastic race that improved our lives and strengthened our movements.