Coventry elected as IOC's first female president

Zimbabwe's sports minister Kirsty Coventry has been elected as the new president of the International Olympic Committee, becoming the first woman and first African to hold the role.

The 41-year-old former swimmer, who won two Olympic gold medals, will replace Thomas Bach - who has led the IOC since 2013 - and be the youngest president in the organisation's 130-year history.

World Athletics boss Lord Coe was among the favourites to win Thursday's election in Greece, but Coventry secured a majority of 49 of the 97 available votes in the first round.

Runner-up Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr won 28 votes while Coe secured eight.

France's David Lappartient and Japan's Morinari Watanabe earned four votes each, while Prince Feisal al Hussein of Jordan and Sweden's Johan Eliasch both took two.

Coventry, who already sits on the IOC executive board and was said to be Bach's preferred candidate, is the 10th person to hold the highest office in sport and will be in post for at least the next eight years.

Coventry has won seven of Zimbabwe's eight Olympic medals - including gold in the 200m backstroke at both the 2004 and 2008 Games.

"The young girl who first started swimming in Zimbabwe all those years ago could never have dreamed of this moment," said Coventry.

"I am particularly proud to be the first female IOC president, and also the first from Africa.

"I hope that this vote will be an inspiration to many people. Glass ceilings have been shattered today, and I am fully aware of my responsibilities as a role model."

Coventry described her election as an "extraordinary moment" during her acceptance speech, and promised to make IOC members proud of their choice.

During her election campaign Coventry pledged to modernise, promote sustainability, embrace technology and empower athletes.

She placed particular emphasis on protecting female sport, backing a blanket ban of transgender women from competing in female Olympic sport.

Coventry has faced criticism in Zimbabwe in her capacity as sports minister since 2018, but defended her association with the government of controversial president Emmerson Mnangagwa.

Governmental interference in football resulted in Fifa banning Zimbabwe from the international game in 2022, while last year the United States imposed sanctions on Mnangagwa and other senior officials for corruption and human rights abuses.

The presidential vote took place at a luxury hotel in a seaside resort about 60 miles south of Olympia, the birthplace of the ancient Games.

IOC members had to hand in their phones before a secret electronic ballot at about 14:30 GMT.

The campaign process restricted candidates to 15-minute presentations at a private event in January, with media barred and no scope for questions from members afterwards.

Endorsements by members were not allowed, nor was any criticism of rival candidates, meaning behind-the-scenes lobbying played an important role.

British Olympic Association CEO Andy Anson congratulated Coventry, saying: "We know her well and look forward to working together to grow the Olympic Movement's global relevance and commercial success."

Russia hopes Coventry's victory will lead to its return from sporting exile. Russian athletes have not competed at the Olympics under their own flag since 2016, following the state-run doping scandal and then the war in Ukraine.

"We look forward to a stronger, more independent, and more prosperous Olympic movement under a new leader, and to Russia returning to the Olympic podium," Russian sports minister Mikhail Degtyarev, who is also head of the Russian Olympic Committee, wrote on his Telegram account.

'A landmark moment for world sport' - analysis

This is a landmark moment for the IOC and for world sport.

As the first woman to hold sport's most powerful role, Kirsty Coventry is a trailblazer. But as a member of its executive board, she is also an IOC insider.

Coventry was seen as the preferred candidate of outgoing president Thomas Bach and her convincing victory after a low-key campaign will be seen as a reflection of his influence.

IOC members were clearly untroubled by her close association with the controversial Zimbabwe government.

Coventry will assume her new role in June at a critical time for the Olympic movement.

She will have to deal with a tense geopolitical landscape, the potential reintegration of Russia, and US President Donald Trump before the 2028 LA Games.

She will also have to tackle issues such as gender eligibility, climate change, and ensuring the Games remain relevant going forward.

Meanwhile, this is a rare setback for Lord Coe, who will be hugely disappointed to have been beaten so convincingly.

On paper he was very well qualified for the role, but antagonised the IOC hierarchy with a surprise move to introduce cash for gold medals at last year's Paris Olympics and his tough stance with Russia.

He was seen as a reform candidate and a disruptor - and in the final reckoning that seems to have cost him the role he said he had been preparing for all his life.

Topics

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