BREAKING NEWS: Kirsty Coventry elected President of International Olympic Committee

Kirsty Coventry was elected as the tenth president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) during the 144th IOC Session, held on March 20, 2025 in Costa Navarino, Pylos, Greece.

Coventry who is the most decorated Olympian swimmer from Africa, serves as the Minister of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation in the Cabinet of Zimbabwe since September 2018.

The 41 year-old floored a big field of seven led by race favorite, World Athletics president, Lord Coe alongside Juan Antonio Samaranch – the son of the influential IOC president of the same name between 1980 and 2001.

Coventry who is also the women world record holder, becomes the first female President in IOC history and will take over from Thomas Bach who will leave office from June 23, 2025

Coventry’s election, marks a significant milestone for gender and racial diversity within the IOC. “It’s a really powerful signal,” Coventry stated, highlighting the IOC’s progress toward inclusivity. “It’s a signal that we’re truly global and that we have evolved into an organisation that is truly open to diversity and we’re going to continue that path.”

Coventry secured 49 of the 97 available votes in a single round of voting, comfortably surpassing her closest rival, Samaranch Jr., who received 28 votes, while Sebastian Coe managed only eight.