Zimbabwean swimming great Kirsty Coventry smashed through the International Olympic Committee’s glass ceiling on Thursday (March 20) to become the organization’s first female and first African president in its 130-year history.

Pilos

Kirsty Coventry has made history by becoming the first female and first African president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in its 130-year history. The Zimbabwean swimming champion won the presidential election, succeeding Thomas Bach, by securing 49 out of the 97 votes in the secret ballot, edging out contenders Juan Antonio Samaranch and Sebastian Coe. Coventry expressed her honor and commitment to leading the organization, emphasizing pride and adherence to core values.

Thomas Bach, the outgoing IOC president, will complete his term in June after 12 years of leadership. During the announcement of Coventry's election, Bach was recognized as honorary president for life and expressed his gratitude for continuing to contribute to the sports world beyond his athletic career. Coventry, a distinguished Olympic figure with seven medals to her name, has been active within the IOC, sitting on its Athletes' Commission since 2012.

Coventry's appointment is seen as a new chapter for the IOC, with expectations that she will address important issues such as athlete rights, gender equality, and the sustainability of the Olympic Games. She has shown a commitment to promoting sport development in Africa and expanding Olympic involvement, with a vision to make the Games appealing to younger generations.



First female and African Kirsty Coventry elected IOC president

Kirstie Coventry is the new president of the International Olympic Committee, becoming the first female and first African to secure the organization's top job in its 130-year history. The Zimbabwean swimming great clinched the race to replace Thomas Bach on Thursday. Coventry needed only one round of voting to emerge victorious, winning an immediate overall majority in the secret ballot with 49 of the available 97 votes. She beat out Juan Antonio Samaranch and Sebastian Coe. This is not just a huge honor, but it is a reminder of my commitment to every single one of you that I will lead this organization with so much pride, with the values at the core, and I will make all of you very, very proud, and hopefully extremely confident in the decision that you have taken today. She will take over the presidency from Bach, who will step down in June after 12 years. On Wednesday, Bach became emotional when he was named honorary president for life. I'm grateful that after my career as athlete, I could continue to live my passion for sport. And I'm grateful that you allowed me to give back to sport. Coventry has long been a towering figure in Olympic circles. The seven-time Olympic medalist joined the IOC's Athletes' Commission in 2012. And her election to the top job signals a new era for the organization. There are expectations that Coventry will bring a fresh perspective to pressing issues such as athlete rights, the gender debate, and the sustainability of the Games. A champion of sport development in Africa, Coventry has pledged to expand Olympic participation and ensure the Games remain relevant to younger generations.

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