Former Olympic champion Sebastian Coe has congratulated Zimbabwe’s Kirsty Coventry on her historic election as the new International Olympic Committee (IOC) president. Coventry won 49 votes in the first round of voting, with Spain’s Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr taking second place.
Coe, who was seen as a strong contender for the position, received only eight votes and congratulated Coventry on her victory. He acknowledged that while it was not his election outcome he had hoped for, he believes having an athlete at the helm will bring confidence to the organization.
“It’s a good thing,” Coe said. “She has the confidence of the athletes, and that’s very important.” The 68-year-old World Athletics chief declined to interpret the vote results or speculate on what it might mean for his future role in the IOC.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/sports/coe-gracious-after-crushing-defeat-ioc-presidential-election-2025-03-20