Kirsty Coventry has made history as the first female and African president of the International Olympic Committee, securing a decisive victory over six male contenders, including Britain’s Lord Coe.
The 41-year-old former Olympic swimmer won 49 out of 97 votes in the first round of Thursday’s election, far outpacing Coe, who managed only eight votes.
Coventry, Zimbabwe’s sports minister, will officially assume office on June 23, replacing Thomas Bach, who has led the IOC since 2013. This milestone makes her the youngest president in the organisation’s 130-year history.
Her leadership will be tested early, with the Milan-Cortina Winter Games in 2026 marking her first Olympics at the helm.
A Groundbreaking Victory
Coventry emphasized the significance of her election, saying, “It’s a really powerful signal. It’s a signal that we’re truly global and that we have evolved into an organisation that is truly open to diversity and we’re going to continue walking that road in the next eight years.”
Her closest competitor, Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr., received 28 votes, while France’s David Lappartient and Japan’s Morinari Watanabe earned four each.
Prince Feisal al Hussein of Jordan and Sweden’s Johan Eliasch finished with two votes apiece.
Coventry, already an IOC executive board member and reportedly Bach’s favoured successor, is now the 10th individual to lead the Olympic movement.
Reflecting on her journey from a young swimmer in Zimbabwe to the highest office in global sports, she said, “The young girl who first started swimming in Zimbabwe all those years ago could never have dreamed of this moment.”
Beyond becoming the first African president, Coventry is also the first woman to lead the IOC, a moment she hopes will inspire others.
“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.”
Her campaign focused on modernizing the IOC, promoting sustainability, embracing technological advancements, and prioritizing athlete welfare.
Notably, she has taken a firm stance on protecting female sports by supporting a ban on transgender women competing in women’s Olympic events.
A Loss for Coe, a Win for Athletes
Despite a disappointing third-place finish, Coe acknowledged Coventry’s victory, stating, “We have an athlete at the helm of the organisation. We talked about it together a few weeks ago and we both agreed it was really important, and I’m very pleased for her. This is a very good result for the athletes.”
He noted the strong support she received from athletes and female IOC members, adding, “I’ve congratulated her. She’s got a huge job, but she will have the confidence of the athletes, and that’s very important.”
The election took place in a luxury seaside hotel, roughly 60 miles from Olympia, the birthplace of the ancient Games.
Candidates were limited to brief presentations in January, with no media presence or opportunities for questions, making private lobbying a key factor in the outcome.
Reactions and Challenges Ahead
British Olympic Association CEO Andy Anson congratulated Coventry, stating, “We know her well and look forward to working together to grow the Olympic movement’s global relevance and commercial success.”
Meanwhile, Russia, which has been banned from competing under its own flag since 2016, hopes her leadership could lead to reintegration.
Russian sports minister Mikhail Degtyarev commented, “We look forward to a stronger, more independent, and more prosperous Olympic movement under a new leader, and to Russia returning to the Olympic podium.”
However, Coventry has faced domestic criticism in Zimbabwe over her tenure as sports minister since 2018, particularly due to government interference in football, which led to FIFA banning Zimbabwe from international competition in 2022.
Coventry stressed the importance of collaboration and inclusivity, saying, “What I want to focus on is bringing all the candidates together. There were so many good ideas and exchanges over the last six months.”
She also highlighted the Olympic movement’s role in uniting people across geopolitical divides, “The IOC and the Olympic movement have lasted so many generations because it brings people together and the diversity is a unifying way for us to connect with each other.”
Coventry acknowledged that working with global leaders—including United States President Donald Trump, whose immigration policies could impact athlete visas ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Games, will be crucial.
“Communication will be key,” she noted, adding, “I have been dealing with, let’s say, difficult men in high positions since I was 20 years old.”
While Coventry’s election signals progress in terms of gender and continental representation, it also reflects the IOC’s preference for continuity over radical change.
As an insider with strong ties to the Bach administration, she was seen as a stabilizing choice.
Lord Coe, despite his credentials, may have been viewed as too disruptive. His proposal to introduce cash prizes for gold medalists at the Paris Olympics and his strict stance on Russia’s participation likely alienated IOC traditionalists.
As Coventry prepares to take charge, she faces a host of challenges, from geopolitical tensions to the evolving debate on gender eligibility in sports.
Her success will depend on whether she can balance modernization with the traditions that define the Olympic movement.
Her triumph is undoubtedly a landmark moment, but her tenure will ultimately be judged on how effectively she leads the IOC into the future.
