Zimbabwe’s Kirsty Coventry, a two-time Olympic swimming champion, made history Thursday by being elected president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), becoming the first woman and the first African to hold the role in the organization’s 130-year history.
The 41-year-old secured a decisive majority of 49 out of 97 votes in the first round of voting, comfortably outpacing rivals including World Athletics president Sebastian Coe, who received eight votes.
Coventry, who will succeed Thomas Bach on June 23, will also be the youngest IOC president ever. Her tenure begins ahead of the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, marking her first Games at the helm.
“This is a powerful signal that we are a truly global, diverse organization, and we will continue advancing this path,” Coventry declared in her victory speech.
Coventry, a seven-time Olympic medalist and holder of all but one of Zimbabwe’s Olympic accolades, has long been a prominent figure in sports governance. An IOC executive board member since 2018, she was widely viewed as Bach’s preferred successor. Her campaign emphasized modernization, sustainability, technological integration, and athlete empowerment. She also advocated for stringent policies in female sports, supporting a blanket ban on transgender women competing in women’s Olympic events.
Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr. of Spain finished second with 28 votes, while France’s David Lappartient and Japan’s Morinari Watanabe each secured four. Jordan’s Prince Feisal al Hussein and Sweden’s Johan Eliasch received two votes apiece.
Coventry’s election underscores a shift toward broader representation in Olympic leadership. Her agenda includes fortifying the IOC’s global relevance, addressing athlete welfare, and ensuring female athletes’ “protected category” remains intact.
As the 10th IOC president, Coventry steps into a role tasked with balancing tradition and innovation.
