Former double Olympic champion Kirsty Coventry has been elected as the new president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) following the voting process conducted during the body’s 144th Session in Greece on Thursday.
The historic win allows the 41-year-old Zimbabwe swimming legend and sports minister of the southern African nation to replace outgoing president Thomas Bach, who had been at the helm of IOC since 2013.
Coventry becomes the first woman, the first African and the youngest person ever to assume the role in the history of the IOC. President of World Athletics Lord Sebastian Coe was the favourite heading into Thursday’s election, but Coventry secured an absolute majority in the first round of voting.
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Already sitting on the IOC executive board, Coventry is the 10th person to hold the highest office in sport and will be at the helm for the next eight years at least.
“The young girl who first started swimming in Zimbabwe all those years ago could never have dreamed of this moment,” Coventry said. “I am particularly proud to be the first female IOC president, and also the first from Africa.”
She added, “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.”
Coventry has won seven of Zimbabwe’s eight medals at the Olympic Games – including gold in the 200m backstroke at both the 2004 and 2008 Olympiad.