Zimbabwean Olympic gold medalist and Minister of Sports, Kirsty Coventry, has been elected as the new President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), making history as the first African and first woman to hold the prestigious position.
Coventry secured victory in the first round of voting, defying predictions that Lord Sébastien Coe, the president of World Athletics, was the frontrunner for the role. With strong backing from outgoing president Thomas Bach, she emerged as the clear winner among six other contenders in the secret ballot.
Her appointment marks a significant shift for the global sporting body, as she brings both experience as a decorated Olympian and a government official. Coventry, a seven-time Olympic medalist and former chair of the IOC Athletes’ Commission, has been an influential figure in international sports administration.
The victory is seen as a win not just for Zimbabwe but for Africa and women in sports leadership. Coventry’s election underscores the increasing representation of diverse voices in global sporting governance.
Details of her plans for the IOC presidency are expected to be outlined in the coming weeks, as she takes over from Bach to lead the organization into a new era.
