NAIROBI, Kenya — In a groundbreaking moment for global sports, Zimbabwe’s Kirsty Coventry has become the first female and African president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), defeating six male contenders—including Britain’s Lord Coe—in a decisive election.
The 41-year-old, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, clinched the role with 49 out of 97 votes in the first round, leaving World Athletics chief Sebastian Coe trailing far behind with just eight.
Coventry will officially assume office on June 23, replacing Thomas Bach, who has led the IOC since 2013. She will also be the youngest president in the organization’s 130-year history.
With the Milan-Cortina Winter Games in 2026 set as her first Olympics in charge, Coventry is stepping into one of the most influential roles in sports at a time of geopolitical tensions, gender eligibility debates, and the ever-evolving commercial landscape of the Games.
A New Era for the IOC
Coventry, who already sits on the IOC executive board and was widely seen as Bach’s preferred candidate, described her victory as an “extraordinary moment”, signaling the IOC’s evolving commitment to diversity.
“It’s a really powerful signal,” she said. “We’re proving that the Olympic movement is truly global and open to change. I hope this vote inspires others—glass ceilings have been shattered today.”
Her election was a landslide. Runner-up Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr. secured 28 votes, while France’s David Lappartient and Japan’s Morinari Watanabe managed only four each.
The remaining two candidates, Prince Feisal al Hussein of Jordan and Sweden’s Johan Eliasch, received just two votes apiece.
Coventry’s influence in global sports is undeniable. She has won seven of Zimbabwe’s eight Olympic medals, including back-to-back golds in the 200m backstroke at the 2004 and 2008 Games.
Now, she takes the reins of the world’s biggest sporting organization with a vision to modernize the IOC, embrace technology, and prioritize sustainability—a message she pushed throughout her campaign.
Challenges Ahead: Russia, Geopolitics & Gender Debates
Coventry is stepping into the role at a crucial moment. Russia remains a controversial presence in international sport, with its athletes banned from competing under their national flag since 2016 due to doping scandals and later the war in Ukraine.
Moscow, however, sees Coventry’s leadership as a potential turning point.
“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,” said Mikhail Degtyarev, Russia’s sports minister.
Beyond Russia, Coventry will have to navigate global political tensions, particularly as the 2028 Los Angeles Games approach.
U.S. immigration policies under President Donald Trump, if reelected, could complicate visa access for athletes worldwide.
And then there’s gender eligibility—a topic she has taken a firm stance on. Coventry has backed a blanket ban on transgender women competing in female Olympic events, a position that has sparked both praise and criticism.
For Lord Coe, the election result was a stunning blow. Seen as a reformist candidate, Coe had pushed for radical changes—including cash rewards for gold medalists—a move that reportedly alienated the IOC establishment.
Although he finished a distant third, Coe maintained a diplomatic tone.
“We have an athlete at the helm of the organization,” he said. “This is a great result for athletes worldwide. I’ve congratulated her—she’s got a huge job ahead.”
Coe’s loss also signals that the IOC is not ready for the kind of disruption he represented.
Coventry’s election, by contrast, suggests continuity with Bach’s leadership—a steady, inside-track approach rather than an overhaul of the system.
With less than three years until Milan-Cortina 2026, Coventry has no time to waste. She has already vowed to bring her election rivals into the fold, emphasizing collaboration over division.
“I want to bring everyone together,” she said. “There were so many great ideas during this process. Now, it’s time to reset and move forward as a united Olympic movement.”
As she prepares to take the Olympic torch from Bach, Coventry faces a long list of challenges—geopolitical turmoil, athlete welfare, and keeping the Games commercially relevant in an evolving digital age. But if her stunning rise from an Olympic champion to the most powerful role in sports is any indication, she’s ready to dive in.
