Kirsty Coventry Becomes First African and Female IOC President

Zimbabwe’s Minister of Sport, Recreation, Arts, and Culture, Kirsty Coventry, has been elected as the 10th President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), making history as the first woman and first African to hold the position in the organization’s 130-year existence.

Coventry, 41, was chosen in a secret ballot during the 144th IOC Session held in Costa Navarino, Greece, on March 20. She secured the presidency with 49 votes out of 97, surpassing six other candidates.

Spanish candidate Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr. finished second with 28 votes, while British athletics legend Sebastian Coe came in third with eight. The remaining votes were split among France’s David Lappartient, Jordan’s Prince Feisal, Sweden’s Johan Eliasch, and Japan’s Morinari Watanabe.

In her victory speech, Coventry expressed gratitude and pledged to serve the IOC with dedication.

“This is an incredible honor and a deep responsibility. I promise to lead with passion, integrity, and commitment to the Olympic movement,” she stated.

Her tenure officially begins on June 23, Olympic Day, when she takes over from current IOC President Thomas Bach. Coventry’s first major challenge as president will be overseeing preparations for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina.

Meanwhile, Zimbabwean lawyer Fadzayi Mahere has pointed out that Coventry will need to resign from her ministerial role, as the country’s constitution does not allow her to hold both positions simultaneously.

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