Kirsty Coventry has been elected as the first woman president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
Africa’s most decorated Olympian and Zimbabwe’s minister of sport since 2018 secured a majority of votes in the first round of the election process at the 144th IOC Session in Greece.
The 41-year-old Zimbabwean was chosen over six other candidates, including Lord Sebastian Coe, the two-time 1500m Olympic gold medallist and president of World Athletics and Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr, the 65-year-old IOC vice-president and son of the seventh IOC president, Juan Antonio Samaranch.
She received 49 votes, finishing ahead of Samaranch Jr with 28, and third-place Coe on eight.
Coventry will become the 10th president, succeeding Thomas Bach, who will remain in post until June, and will begin her eight-year term.
Coventry has won seven of Zimbabwe’s eight Olympic medals to date with the former swimmer taking two golds, four silvers and a bronze across Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008.
Bach, 71, leaves as IOC president after serving a maximum 12 years in the role. He won Olympic gold in fencing in 1976 representing West Germany and succeeded Jacques Rogge in 2013.
He was president for three summer and three winter Games, including Paris last year.
Kirsty Coventry becomes first woman, first African to be elected IOC president.
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