Mar 21

Mar 21 Kirsty Coventry Is The Newly Elected President of The IOC. First Woman & African in the Role in a century!

2025 is indeed fast becoming one of the most historic years. Kirsty Coventry’s historic election as the new president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) marks a significant milestone. She is the first woman to hold this position in a century, the first African to do so in a century. Kirsty who’s 41years is also the youngest president elected to this role in a century. This achievement shatters glass ceilings and paves the way for future generations. ✨🙌🏾

The incumbent president Thomas who has been in power for 12 good years will be stepping down for Madam Coventry to take up the role June 24th, 2025. Coventry won against seven contenders in the first round with a vote of 49 which is the majority win from 97 votes at the 144th IOC session in Greece for the most powerful job position in the world of sport.

Her response on the win as stated on the Olympics website: “I'm very proud to call myself a Zimbabwean and to have grown up there, for my mum to have been born there, my grandmother," she told Olympics.com afterwards. "And, [my message] to Africa: this is our time."

Here’s a bit of background on Kirsty CoventryK

Kirsty Coventry is Zimbabwe’s most decorated Olympian, having won seven Olympic medals, including two golds in the 200-meter backstroke at the 2004 Athens and 2008 Beijing Games. Her illustrious swimming career also boasts multiple world championship titles and world records, cementing her status as one of Africa’s greatest athletes.

Beyond her athletic achievements, Coventry has been deeply involved in sports administration and governance. In 2013, she was elected to the IOC Athletes’ Commission and served as its chair from 2018 to 2021. Concurrently, she has been serving as Zimbabwe’s Minister of Youth, Sport, Arts, and Recreation since 2018, focusing on grassroots sports development. Her leadership roles within the IOC include chairing the Coordination Commissions for the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games and the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games. (source: Wikipedia, Reuters, The Austrailian)

Her current election is for an 8year tenure where she is responsible for leading the organization, overseeing the Olympic Movement, and ensuring the successful planning and execution of the Olympic Games. Her role as the President also is to work closely with National Olympic Committees, International Federations, and governments to promote sports development, inclusivity, and sustainability.

The outgoing president Thomas Bach expressed confidence in her when he said his successor would more than meet expectations of Africa.

It looks more plausible for the Olympics to be held in an African country in the near future. 🔥🙌🏾

What an incredible achievement for women in sports and every industry there is! Congratulations to Kirsty!! May she suceed and overcome every hurdle in her path!