Game Changers: IOC Elects First Female, African President

Kirsty Coventry has been elected the newest president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), and she is both the first woman and the first African to hold the position. Coventry beat out seven other candidates to win 49 of the 97 votes.

Coventry is a seven-time Olympic medalist from Zimbabwe. The swimmer participated in five Olympic games, claiming two gold medals, four silver and one bronze, the most of any African athlete. Now, Coventry can add to her impressive resume, “most powerful woman in global sport.”

Coventry first joined the IOC in 2013, and she also serves as the minister of youth sport, arts and recreation of Zimbabwe. She chaired the Athletes Commission and worked as the IOC Athlete Representative on the World Anti-Doping Agency.

According to The Guardian, upon confirming her victory Coventry said, “The young girl who first started swimming in Zimbabwe all those years ago could never have dreamt of this moment. 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. I will make all of you very, very proud and hopefully extremely confident in the decision you have taken. Now we have got some work together.”

Coventry is preceded by Thomas Bach, who has served as president of the IOC since 2013 when Coventry first joined. Bach, from Germany, will continue to serve in an honorary leadership role with the IOC. He threw his support behind Coventry during her campaign, likely leading to her impressive victory.

Coventry will assume office in June for her eight-year term. Her first true test will come at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026, which kick off in eleven months.