Karmactive Staff
In a landmark election, Zimbabwean Olympic champion Kirsty Coventry has shattered glass ceilings by becoming the first woman and first African to lead the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in its 130-year history. The 41-year-old former swimmer secured a decisive victory on Thursday, March 20, 2025, receiving 49 out of 97 votes in the first round of balloting at the 144th IOC Session in Costa Navarino, Greece.
Coventry’s election marks several historic firsts – she will be the IOC’s first female president, first African leader, and at 41, its youngest president. Her eight-year term will begin in June 2025, when she succeeds outgoing president Thomas Bach.
“The young girl who first started swimming in Zimbabwe all those years ago could never have dreamt of this moment,” Coventry said after her victory. “Glass ceilings have been shattered today.”
Her win came against formidable competition. Spain’s Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr. finished second with 28 votes, while British sports administrator Sebastian Coe, widely considered a frontrunner, received just eight votes.
From Olympic Pool to Olympic Leadership
Born in newly-independent Zimbabwe in 1983, Coventry built an impressive career as a swimmer before entering sports administration. She competed in five Olympic Games, winning seven medals including back-to-back gold medals in the 200-meter backstroke at Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008.
Coventry joined the IOC Athletes Commission in 2012 and has risen quickly through the organization’s ranks. Since 2018, she has served as Zimbabwe’s Minister of Youth, Sport, Arts, and Recreation in President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government.
“This is not just a huge honor but it is a reminder of my commitment to every single one of you that I will lead this organization with so much pride,” Coventry told IOC members after her election. “I will make all of you very, very proud, and hopefully extremely confident with the choice you’ve taken today.”
Upcoming Challenges: Trump and LA 2028
Coventry faces significant challenges in her new role, including navigating geopolitical tensions and working with world leaders like Donald Trump ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
When asked how she would handle potential difficulties with the U.S. president, Coventry displayed confidence: “I have been dealing with, let’s say, difficult men in high positions since I was 20 years old. What I have learned is that communication will be key.”
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She added: “We will not waver from our values. Solidarity and ensuring every athlete that qualifies for the Olympic Games has the possibility to attend the Olympic Games and be safe during the Olympic Games.”
Coventry noted that Trump was president when Los Angeles was awarded the 2028 Games in 2017. “I truly believe that he wants the LA 28 Games to be a huge success,” she said. “It will take sitting down and having a good conversation with him… sharing with him our values and where we want to be.”
Vision for the Future
Coventry has outlined plans to focus on unity within the Olympic movement. “I’m going to sit down with President Bach. We’re going to have a few months for a handover takeover,” she explained. “What I want to focus on is bringing all the candidates together. There were so many good ideas and exchanges over the last six months.”
Regarding women’s sports, Coventry stated firmly: “My stance is that we will protect the female category and athletes. I want to work together with the international federations. And we’re going to do that by setting up a task force that will look and analyze everything.”
As a champion of sport development in Africa, Coventry is expected to expand Olympic participation and make the Games more relevant to younger generations. She also inherits complex responsibilities involving global sports federations and sponsors while maintaining the IOC’s financial stability.
Political Background and Criticism
Coventry’s ministerial role in Zimbabwe has drawn some criticism. She defended her position: “In terms of my country, I chose to try and create change from the inside. It gets criticized, and that’s OK, because at the end of the day, I don’t think you can stand on the sidelines and scream for change. I believe you have to be seated at the table.”
Her relationship with President Mnangagwa, nicknamed “The Crocodile” for his ruthlessness, has raised questions among international observers. Zimbabwe faces sanctions from countries including Britain, which aims to encourage the nation “to respect democratic principles, refrain from actions, policies or activities which repress civil society in Zimbabwe and to comply with international human rights law.”
Additionally, Zimbabwe has been banned from hosting national team games by the Confederation of African Football since 2020 due to unsafe stadiums – an issue that remains unresolved during Coventry’s tenure as sports minister.
Despite these controversies, Coventry’s election represents a significant moment for diversity in sports leadership and signals the IOC’s evolution toward greater representation.
