Kirsty Coventry was elected as the new president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Thursday, marking a historic moment as the first woman and first African to lead the organization in its 130-year history.
The Zimbabwean secured victory in just one round of voting, earning 49 out of 97 votes to succeed Thomas Bach.
Spanish candidate Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr. placed second with 28 votes, while Britain’s Sebastian Coe, once considered a strong contender, finished third with eight. Other candidates included David Lappartient of France, Jordan’s Prince Feisal, Johan Eliasch of Sweden, and Japan’s Morinari Watanabe.
Expressing gratitude, a delighted Coventry addressed IOC members, saying, “This is not just a great honor, but also a reminder of my commitment to each of you. I will lead this organization with pride and make you all very proud.” She also acknowledged the competitive election process, noting that it strengthened the Olympic movement.
Five-time Olympian Coventry has been an IOC Member since 2013 and served on the IOC Executive Board from 2018 to 2021, resuming her role in 2023. She was the Chairperson of the IOC Athletes’ Commission from 2018 to 2021 and currently leads the Co-ordination Commissions for both the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games and the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games.
Since 2018, she has also held the position of Zimbabwe’s Minister of Sport. Additionally, she was a Vice President of the International Surfing Federation from 2017 to 2024.
—with reports from Reuters, International Paralympic Committee
