Kirsty Coventry made history on Thursday by becoming the first female and African president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), beating six male candidates, including Britain’s Lord Coe.
Gatekeepers News reports that the 41-year-old former swimmer, who won two Olympic gold medals, secured a majority of 49 out of 97 available votes in the first round of the election.
Coventry’s victory is seen as a “powerful signal” that the IOC is truly global and open to diversity.
She expressed her pride in being the first female IOC president and the first from Africa, hoping that her election will inspire many people.
“Glass ceilings have been shattered today, and I am fully aware of my responsibilities as a role model,” she said.
Coventry will replace Thomas Bach, who has led the IOC since 2013, on June 23 and will be the youngest president in the organization’s 130-year history.
Her first Olympics will be the Milan-Cortina Winter Games in February 2026.
During her election campaign, Coventry pledged to modernise, promote sustainability, embrace technology, and empower athletes. She also emphasised the importance of protecting female sport, backing a blanket ban on transgender women from competing in female Olympic sport.
