Kirsty Coventry has been elected as the first woman and African to lead the International Olympic Committee (IOC), marking a significant milestone for the global sports body. The 41-year-old Zimbabwean swimmer won the election with an exact majority of 49 votes out of 97 cast by IOC members.
Coventry, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, was seen as a dark horse candidate in the seven-candidate contest, but her campaign focused on promoting unity and global representation. She promised to work closely with the new US President, Donald Trump, about the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Coventry’s win is seen as a victory for outgoing IOC president Thomas Bach, who has been promoting her as his successor. He did not participate in the election but expressed his support for Coventry, saying she will make him proud.
The new IOC president faces several challenges, including steering the Olympic movement through political and sporting issues towards 2028 in Los Angeles. She also needs to find a host for the 2036 Summer Games, which could go to India or the Middle East.
Coventry’s election is a significant achievement for women’s representation in sports leadership, following Bach’s legacy of promoting gender parity. The IOC now has seven women among its 15 members, including Coventry.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/ioc-olympics-president-election-coventry-coe-samaranch-762f3442ff2a01be9e822cd017b89a59