First female president of the International Olympic Committee

Born in 1983, two-time Olympic swimming gold medalist Kirsty Coventry will become the first woman and first African representative to hold the highest position of the International Olympic Committee.

Kirsty Coventry - First Female President of the International Olympic Committee

The former Zimbabwean swimmer is expected to bring many reforms to his tenure as he replaces his predecessor Thomas Bach.

At 41, Kirsty Coventry will face the challenge of leading the movement in an era of digital transformation, political responsibility and growing environmental concerns.

Kirsty Coventry's success also proves the statement "Women are ready to lead" before officially reaching the moment of glory. Kirsty Coventry has always been one of the most prominent figures in the history of African sports and is the most honored African Olympian, with 07 medals at Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008 (02 gold, 04 silver and 01 bronze). After retiring, she served as Zimbabwe's Sports Minister and also chaired the Athletes' Commission of the International Olympic Committee - one of the most influential bodies of this organization.

Kirsty Coventry's leadership of the Athletes' Commission and her role on the Executive Board will help her navigate an era where diversity and gender equality are seen as priorities.

Kirsty Coventry has also taken a strong stance on tackling gender inequality in leadership roles, arguing that women should not be an exception in the world of sport. While progress has been made towards gender equality, there is still much to do. “At Paris 2024, we have achieved gender parity in the competitions, but within the federations and national committees, there is still a significant gap,” Kirsty Coventry admits.

In addition to the numbers of women in sport, it is also important to ensure that they have a voice and a vote in key positions. Female leadership should not be the exception but the norm in sports organisations.

The new IOC president will inherit an organization in a strong financial position. Billions of dollars are secured in media rights and sponsorship deals. President Thomas Bach has secured a stable financial position for the organization at the time of his departure, with $7.3 billion (€6.7 billion) in revenue from broadcasting, partnerships and other sources for the 2025–28 cycle, with $6.2 billion (€5.7 billion) already locked in for 2029–32.

Most recently, the International Olympic Committee also announced the extension of its $3 billion (€2.7 billion) Olympic media rights deal with NBCUniversal in the United States until 2036.

However, financial stability does not guarantee success in a sports landscape increasingly shaped by politics, technology and changing social expectations.

To balance financial growth with the core values ​​of the Olympic Movement, Kirsty Coventry believes it is about finding ways to ensure that stakeholders are taken care of to deliver multi-sport events at the highest level. This requires more money and finding ways to sustain it. For example, in working with host cities, the IOC is adapting the model to what they already have, without requiring new venues to be built because that is no longer feasible. This change helps to increase revenue while keeping costs under control.

Kirsty Coventry joined the Olympic Council 12 years ago as an athletes’ representative and was later extended to a permanent membership. Since then, Kirsty Coventry has been given increasingly responsible positions by President Thomas Bach, including chair of the coordination commission for the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games and Brisbane 2032 Youth Olympic Games, among others.

Kirsty Coventry's appointment as the new president of the International Olympic Committee is a groundbreaking move, marking the beginning of a new era in the world of sport.

"I will make you proud and not regret the decision you made today," Kirsty Coventry said after the resounding victory.

Curriculum Vitae

Kirsty Coventry

Age: 41

Nationality: Zimbabwe

International Olympic Committee member year: 2013 (member of the Athletes' Commission; individual member from 2021)

Biography and career:

Kirsty Coventry is a retired Olympic swimmer with an impressive career that included seven medals (two golds in the 200m backstroke at Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008). During her career, she also won five World Championship medals and five African Games medals. This achievement made her the most decorated female athlete on the continent. She is also the first African woman to win an Olympic gold medal in swimming.

After retiring from competition, she moved into politics and sports leadership, serving as chair of the IOC Athletes' Commission from 2018 to 2021 and was re-elected as Zimbabwe's Minister of Sports, Arts and Recreation in 2023 to present. During her time at the IOC, she championed policies on mental health and athlete wellbeing, goals she continues to promote to this day.

Achievements and lifestyle:

Kirsty Coventry founded the Kirsty Coventry Academy, which teaches children to swim and be water safe, was named Zimbabwe Sportswoman of the Year and is a strong advocate for equality in sport, with a particular focus on getting women into decision-making roles.

Key recommendations:

Kirsty Coventry’s vision for the International Olympic Committee includes a greater focus on the holistic well-being of athletes, promoting inclusion and transparency within the organisation, and implementing stricter policies to combat match-fixing and doping in sport. Kirsty Coventry has taken a strong stance on the inclusion of transgender athletes and prioritises protection and fairness for women in sport.

Source: https://bvhttdl.gov.vn/nu-chu-tich-dau-tien-cua-uy-ban-olympic-quoc-te-20250324103610112.htm