Who is Kirsty Coventry? The new IOC President

NEW DELHI: In a landmark moment for global sport, Kirsty Coventry was elected on Thursday as the new president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). She became the first woman, the first African, and the youngest person ever to lead the organization in its 131-year history.
The 41-year-old succeeds Thomas Bach, who steps down after 12 years at the helm, and assumes leadership at a time of shifting dynamics in world sport.
Coventry, a two-time Olympic champion, emerged victorious in the first round of voting, defeating a field of high-profile candidates that included World Athletics president Sebastian Coe and IOC stalwart Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr.
Her immediate win came as a surprise to many, but underscored the strong backing she had within the Olympic movement, including reportedly from Bach himself.
“This is an extraordinary moment,” Coventry said in her acceptance speech. “As a nine-year-old girl, I never thought that I would be standing up here one day, getting to give back to this incredible movement of ours.”

"This is not just a huge honour, but it is a reminder 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, I hope, extremely confident in the decision you've taken today.
"Thank you from the bottom of my heart."

Kirsty Coventry is Zimbabwe’s most decorated Olympian, winning seven Olympic medals, including two golds, in swimming between 2004 and 2008.
Since retiring, she has transitioned into leadership, serving as Zimbabwe’s Minister of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation, and representing athletes on the IOC Executive Board from 2018 to 2021.
Her track record includes advocating for youth development through sport and maintaining continuity with Bach-era policies.

While her past tenure drew some criticism for not pushing further on athlete commercial rights, her election signals a desire within the IOC for both continuity and evolution.
As Coventry prepares to take charge, her presidency represents not just personal achievement, but a turning point for gender and geographic representation in global sports governance.