Zimbabwean Kirsty Coventry appoint as President of International Olympic Committee

By: WE Staff | Friday, 21 March 2025

• Kristy Coventry becomes First Woman & African President of IOC
• Kristy Coventry received 49 out of 97 Votes
• She will officially assume her role on June 23, 2025

Zimbabwean Kirsty Coventry has become the first woman and African president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), marking a significant milestone in the organization's 131-year history.

Kristy, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, and seven-time Olympic medalist, received 49 out of 97 votes in the first round. She is also the youngest person to hold the most powerful position in sports governance. She will officially assume her role on June 23, 2025, marking an "extraordinary moment".

Zimbabwean sports minister, Kristy, is a close ally to German Thomas Bach, who resigned as IOC supremo after 12 years. She plans to collaborate with six other heavyweight rivals.

On her appointment, Kristy said, "This is an extraordinary moment, as a nine-year-old girl I never thought that I would be standing up here one day, getting to give back to this incredible moment of ours." She added "This is not just a huge honor but it is a reminder to every single one of you that I will lead this organization with so much pride, with the values at the core and I will make all of you very, very proud and I hope, extremely confident in the decision you have taken today. Thank you from the bottom of my heart."

Kristy Coventry believed to be Bach's preferred candidate, was in a tight-run race with Juan Antonio Samaranch Junior and Sebastian Coe. However, the race was decided in the first round, with Coe receiving the most votes. Samaranch and Coe's dreams of becoming IOC president are over.