IOC President
By Sello Masilo
Kirsty Coventry, a former Olympic swimming champion and Zimbabwe’s sports minister, was elected as the President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) during the 144th IOC Session in Costa Navarino. This landmark election makes her the first woman and the first African to lead the IOC, ushering in a new era for the global Olympic body. Coventry’s leadership is poised to address critical issues such as the integrity of women’s sports and the potential inclusion of cricket in the Olympic Games, amid widespread expectations for her to champion gender equity and fairness in athletics.
A Historic Victory for Diversity
Kirsty Coventry’s election on Thursday, 20 March 2025, at the luxurious Costa Navarino resort in Pylos, Greece, was a decisive one. The 41-year-old Zimbabwean secured 49 out of 97 votes in the first round of a secret ballot, achieving an immediate majority in a field of seven candidates that included prominent figures like Britain’s Lord Sebastian Coe and Spain’s Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr. Her victory not only shatters glass ceilings but also signals a shift towards greater diversity in the IOC’s 130-year history.
“I am particularly proud to be the first female IOC President, and also the first from Africa,” Coventry said in her acceptance speech. “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.” Her words resonated with attendees and sparked hope across the sports world, particularly in Africa, where she is celebrated as the continent’s most decorated Olympian with seven medals, including two golds from Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008.
Outgoing IOC President Thomas Bach, who will hand over the reins on 23 June 2025 after a 12-year tenure, hailed Coventry as his successor. “Congratulations to Kirsty Coventry on her election as the 10th IOC President. There is no doubt that the future for our Olympic Movement is bright,” he said, expressing confidence in her ability to lead during a transitional period.
From Olympic Champion to Global Sports Leader
Coventry’s journey to the IOC presidency is rooted in her remarkable career. Born in Harare, Zimbabwe, she competed in five Olympic Games between 2000 and 2016, amassing seven medals—two gold, four silver, and one bronze—making her a national hero and Africa’s most successful Olympian. After retiring, she transitioned into sports administration, joining the IOC Athletes’ Commission in 2012 and later serving as its chair in 2018. Since 2018, she has also been Zimbabwe’s Minister of Youth, Sport, Arts, and Recreation, a role that has honed her leadership skills despite scrutiny over her ties to the country’s controversial government.
Her election at the 144th IOC Session, held from 18 to 21 March 2025, came after a campaign that emphasised unity, innovation, and athlete empowerment. Coventry’s manifesto, “Unleashing the Transformative Power of Sport,” outlined plans to modernise the Olympics, promote sustainability, and ensure the Games remain relevant to younger generations. “The young girl who first started swimming in Zimbabwe all those years ago could never have dreamt of this moment,” she reflected, underscoring her improbable rise to one of sport’s most powerful positions.
Key Challenges: Women’s Sports and Cricket’s Olympic Future
Coventry steps into the presidency at a pivotal time for the IOC, with pressing issues demanding her attention. One of the most prominent is the integrity of women’s sports, a topic that gained global traction following controversies at the Paris 2024 Olympics. During her campaign, Coventry pledged to protect female categories, responding to concerns over transgender participation and gender eligibility rules. “My stance is that we will protect the female category and athletes,” she told reporters in Greece. “I want to work together with the international federations by setting up a task force that will look and analyse everything.”
This commitment has drawn both praise and scrutiny. Posts on X reflect a polarised sentiment: some laud her as a trailblazer who could strengthen women’s sports, while others question her past role on the IOC Executive Board, which oversaw the Paris boxing scandal involving gender eligibility disputes. Her promise to address these issues head-on will be a key test of her leadership.
Another anticipated focus is the potential inclusion of cricket in the Olympic Games, a move that could expand the IOC’s reach, particularly in South Asia and the Commonwealth. Cricket was confirmed for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics earlier in 2025, a decision made under Bach’s tenure. Coventry, with her global perspective and African roots, is expected to champion its successful integration, potentially boosting participation and viewership in regions where the sport thrives.
Stakeholder Expectations: Gender Equity and Fairness
Coventry’s election has sparked widespread reactions from stakeholders eager for change. The British Olympic Association’s CEO, Andy Anson, congratulated her, saying, “We know her well and look forward to working together to grow the Olympic movement’s global relevance.” In Africa, her victory is seen as a moment of pride. “This is our time,” she told Olympics.com, dedicating her win to the continent that shaped her.
Gender equity and fairness in athletics are at the forefront of expectations. Coventry inherits an IOC that achieved near gender parity at the Paris 2024 Games, a legacy of Bach’s leadership. However, she faces pressure to extend this progress beyond the Games into national federations and committees. “We’ve done an incredible job within our IOC membership, and now we need to filter that through,” she said, hinting at a broader vision for equality.
Her ties to Zimbabwe’s government, led by President Emmerson Mnangagwa, have raised eyebrows. Critics point to her $100,000 award from former President Robert Mugabe in 2008 and her ministerial role in a regime facing sanctions from the US and EU. Yet Coventry has distanced herself from political controversies, focusing instead on her sporting credentials and global unifying vision.
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