Kirsty Coventry of Zimbabwe has been elected as the first female and the first individual from Africa to hold this position. She takes over from the previous president, Thomas Bach of Germany.

Kirsty Coventry created sporting history when she was chosen as the new president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) during their General Assembly held on Thursday (March 20, 2025). She stands out as both the inaugural female leader and the first individual from Africa to helm the organization.

She is likewise the most youthful one since Pierre de Coubertin, who is recognized as the founder of the contemporary Olympic Games. This Frenchman established the IOC in 1894 and assumed the presidential role two years thereafter at just 33 years old.

Coventry, a 41-year-old ex-world-class swimmer hailing from Zimbabwe, has consistently exhibited a powerful determination and foresight.

"Back when I was nine, I shared with my father my dream of participating in the Olympics and securing a gold medal. He acknowledged that the path would be challenging, highlighting how tough it is merely to earn a spot on the Olympic squad, not to mention winning an award, yet he expressed his confidence in me," she stated in a Facebook post several years back.

The most accomplished female Olympic athlete from Africa

When she was 20 years old, she fulfilled her aspirations. During the 2004 event in Athens, Coventry secured the top prize for the 200-meter backstroke. She repeated this victory four years later during the 2008 competition held in Beijing. Besides these victories, she also garnered four additional Olympic silver medals along with one bronze medal. These achievements make Coventry the leading female athlete from Africa in terms of overall Olympic success. Among athletes worldwide, only Tirunesh Dibaba—a renowned distance runner from Ethiopia—has achieved greater feats at the Olympics with her collection of three golds and two bronzes.

"I have participated in five Olympic Games, earned seven individual Olympic medals, set numerous world records, and enjoyed one of the most successful World Championship careers ever," Coventry stated on her LinkedIn profile.

Uniting a troubled nation

Nevertheless, all of these factors pale in comparison to the impact this achievement had and continues to have on others. It brought unity to my nation, which was being hamstrung by divisions stemming from economic and political upheaval, and it instilled hope in individuals who believed their situations barred them from pursuing their aspirations.

Despite remaining an active swimmer, Coventry got elected to the IOC Athletes' Commission in 2013. Over the course of eight years, she advocated for athletes’ rights, serving as chairperson for three of those years. Most recently, she joined the IOC Executive Board.

An African Olympic host?

The growing prominence of Zimbabwe has sparked optimism across Africa that the continent might host the Summer Olympics for the first time ever.

Despite showing interest, both South Africa and Egypt have had their hopes dampened as Coventry has not taken such expectations seriously.

"There is an interest, and now we must make sure to collaborate closely with all these nations that have shown enthusiasm, ensuring they comprehend the full scale of the Olympic Games," she stated.

In a question-and-answer session hosted by the Association of International Sports Journalists (AIPS), Coventry stated that the nations of Africa should “take a strategic approach from the perspective of the African Union to see how we can enhance our infrastructure via the All Africa Games, which could subsequently support an Olympic Games bid.”

Coventry is well aware of the challenges involved in navigating complex political landscapes, drawing from her own experiences. Having served as Zimbabwe’s Minister of Sports since 2018, she mentions that this role has granted her “certainly more resilience” compared to when she was competing as an athlete.

Diplomatic on controversial issues

When questioned about her stance on allowing transgender women to participate in female-only events, she avoided giving a direct answer.

Absolutely, finding a solution is essential," Coventry stated. "I believe the IOC needs to assume somewhat more of a leadership position.

The Zimbabwean also steered clear of taking an extreme stance on another sensitive issue leading up to the IOC election: the potential participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes in the Olympics.

“I believe that above all, our primary responsibility as the IOC is to guarantee that every athlete has the opportunity to compete in the Games,” she stated. “This will entail various approaches for numerous athletes; however, ultimately, I feel we must develop an inclusive method to address the challenges faced by those coming from conflicted regions.”

Given her experience representing Zimbabwe while the nation was grappling with political unrest and facing international sanctions, she shared her thoughts.

It would have been simple for the global community to exclude us from participating. When I reflect on this, I wonder how different my life might be now. I feel thankful that I wasn’t held responsible for the actions of the leaders and administrations involved.

There is much to accomplish in the fight for equality.

Kirsty Coventry wears multiple hats as a sports administrator, politician, and parent. She welcomed her second daughter into the world just under half a year ago. At the same time, her firstborn is six years of age.

"When she reached her first birthday, she had already visited 10 distinct countries across the globe," Coventry mentioned.

I benefit greatly from a strong support system provided by my spouse and relatives. For our household, this is quite typical. I believe it effectively demonstrates that women possess equal capabilities to men, despite often being expected to fulfill roles such as mother, wife, daughter, among others.

There is still considerable work ahead, and I'm enthusiastic about steering this initiative forward," Coventry stated regarding gender equality. "Women are prepared to take charge. I see this as a chance to break down barriers so that by the time my two daughters mature, they won’t face these limitations.

Coventry will assume office on June 24, 2025, which is immediately following the conclusion of outgoing IOC President Thomas Bach's tenure.

The original version of this article was published in German on March 17, 2023. It has since been updated to include the results of the IOC presidential election held on March 20, 2025.

Edited by: Jonathan Harding

Author: Stefan Nestler