COSTA NAVARINO, Greece — In a historic election, Kirsty Coventry has been chosen as the president of the International Olympic Committee, marking the first time a woman and an African have held this prestigious position in global sports.
Coventry, Zimbabwe’s sports minister and a two-time Olympic gold medalist in swimming, achieved a surprising victory in the first round of voting. The election involved seven candidates and was decided by 97 IOC members on Thursday.
At the age of 41, she will serve an eight-year term, extending until 2033, making her one of the younger IOC presidents in history.
This IOC presidential election was considered the most open and unpredictable in recent decades, with no clear favorite emerging beforehand. Many anticipated that it would take multiple rounds of voting to reach an absolute majority, but Coventry secured exactly the 49 votes needed in the first round.
Coventry’s win is also seen as a triumph for the outgoing IOC president, Thomas Bach, who has been a long-time supporter of her candidacy. He abstained from voting.
“I pledge to make you all very proud and confident in the decision you have made,” Coventry stated in her acceptance speech. “Now, we have work to do together.”
As she approached the podium, she was congratulated and kissed by Juan Antonio Samaranch, who was expected to be her strongest competitor and received 28 votes. Sebastian Coe came in third with only eight votes.
The other candidates included the presidents of several sports governing bodies: Sebastian Coe of track and field, Johan Eliasch of skiing, David Lappartient of cycling, and Morinari Watanabe of gymnastics. Prince Feisal al Hussein of Jordan also participated in the race.
Coventry will officially succeed Bach as the 10th IOC president on June 23, which is recognized as Olympic Day. Bach is stepping down after serving the maximum of 12 years in office, marking the end of his tenure in the 131-year history of the IOC.
A key challenge for Coventry, 41, will be guiding the Olympic movement through various political and sporting issues leading up to the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles, which includes engaging in diplomatic discussions with U.S. President Donald Trump.
Coventry’s IOC will also be responsible for selecting a host for the 2036 Summer Games, with potential bids from India and the Middle East.
During the five-month campaign, which had strict rules set by the Bach-led IOC, the strongest contenders appeared to be Coventry, who recently had her second child, IOC Vice President Samaranch, and Coe.
Samaranch aimed to follow in the footsteps of his father, Juan Antonio Samaranch, who served as the IOC’s seventh president from 1980 to 2001.
Coe hoped to add to his already impressive Olympic career. As a two-time Olympic gold medalist in the 1,500 meters, he spearheaded the bidding team for the 2012 London Olympics and then dedicated the next seven years to leading the organizing team for those highly praised Games.
It has been a successful week for Bach, who warmly congratulated Coventry and shared smiles with her after her acceptance speech.
Bach was honored on Wednesday at the beginning of the IOC annual meeting, receiving high praise and the title of honorary president for life.
His hands-on, executive-style presidency will leave behind a financially stable IOC, on track to generate over $8 billion in revenue through the 2028 LA Olympics. He also secured future hosts through 2034: Italy, the United States, France, Australia, and the U.S. again, with the Winter Games returning to Salt Lake City.
A key policy of Bach’s has been gender parity, ensuring equal quotas of male and female athletes at the 2024 Paris Olympics and improving the balance of female members within the IOC and its executive board, which he chairs. The board now includes seven women among its 15 members, including Coventry.
Her victory on Thursday will further enhance Bach’s legacy in promoting women in the Olympics.
Coventry secured consecutive titles in the 200-meter backstroke at the 2004 Athens Olympics and the 2008 Beijing Olympics. She joined the IOC in 2013, almost a year after a contested athlete election at the London Olympics. Her position among the four elected athletes was confirmed after Court of Arbitration for Sport rulings against two of her opponents.
The incoming president will have the important task of overseeing the IOC’s selection of a host for the 2036 Summer Games.
“There is only one thing,” Samaranch stated on Wednesday when asked about future challenges. “We must focus on successful and relevant Olympic Games. The rest will follow with the success of the Games.”
The IOC members, an exclusive group, include royal family members, former lawmakers and diplomats, business leaders, sports officials, and Olympic athletes. Even Oscar-winning actress Michelle Yeoh is a member.
Members voted without hearing additional presentations from the candidates, in an election influenced by a discreet network of friendships and alliances formed behind the scenes.
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