Kirsty Coventry, the 41-year-old Zimbabwean ex-swimmer, has become the first woman to lead the International Olympic Committee (IOC), securing a convincing victory in the presidential election. With 49 votes, she defeated Juan Antonio Samaranch and Sebastian Coe, who received 28 and eight votes respectively.
The outcome was unexpected, with many IOC members doubting Coventry’s chances of winning in the first round. However, her campaign gained momentum in the final hours leading up to the election, with reports suggesting that Samaranch and Coe were lobbied by Coventry’s supporters to vote for her.
Coventry’s victory is seen as a significant shift in the IOC’s leadership, with many members praising her commitment to promoting women’s sports and reducing costs at the organization. Coe, who was considered one of the frontrunners, has acknowledged that he underestimated the appetite for change among IOC members.
The election result comes after months of campaigning, during which both sides made various predictions about how the vote would unfold. Samaranch and Coe had initially predicted a closer outcome, with some estimates suggesting that Samaranch could receive up to 30 votes in the first round.
However, Coventry’s campaign gained traction in the final hours, with many members reportedly switching their support to her. The election process itself was notable for its strict neutrality rules, which were designed to prevent campaigning and lobbying among IOC members.
Despite some criticism of the voting process, the majority of IOC members appear to be embracing Coventry’s victory, with many welcoming her commitment to promoting women’s sports and reducing costs at the organization. As one IOC member noted, the election result is a reminder that “the IOC tends to do what it does best – move on and close ranks behind its winners.”
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/mar/21/sent-to-coventry-how-bachs-power-helped-zimbabweans-shock-ioc-win