The 41-year old Zimbabwe’s multiple Olympic medalist is the first female and first African to oversee the global Olympic movement for the next eight years. 

Zimbabwe’s seven-time Olympic medallist swimmer Kirsty Coventry was elected the 10th president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in March. Her rise to the top post of IOC has broken many barriers. Kirsty will be the first woman and African to preside over the IOC and oversee the global Olympic movement for the next eight years. The 41-year-old is also the youngest to lead the IOC.

The IOC’s presidential elections were held in Costa Navarino, Greece, some 50 miles from the birthplace of the Olympic Games in the third week of March.

As an athlete and then administrator, Kirsty has gained invaluable understanding of the Olympic movement. However, it will require her to navigate through testing times once she takes over the office from her predecessor Thomas Bach on June 24. 

The uncertain geopolitical scenario, fighting the doping menace, promoting gender equality, dealing with effects of ban on Russia, and ensuring smooth conduct of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, are some of the challenges that face Kirsty. The climate crisis is also emerging as a threat to winter sports and the IOC will need to protect the future of Winter Games.

From India’s perspective, the Future Hosts Commission of IOC will decide the host for the 2036 Olympics. India has sent an expression of interest to host the 2036 Olympics. Qatar, Turkey are among other nations in the fray.

After her election, Kirsty was thankful to the IOC members for having faith in her. The president elect said she was incredibly honoured and excited to be chosen for the top post. “I want to sincerely thank my fellow members for their trust and support. The young girl who first started swimming in Zimbabwe all those years ago could never have dreamt of this moment,” she said.

Kirsty was considered a dark horse in the race for IOC’s top post, with seven candidates in fray. However, she was way ahead of other potential candidates in the first-round voting. Of the possible 97 votes, she got 49 valid votes.

The other candidates were HRH Prince Feisal Al Hussein of Jordan, David Lappartient, president of International Cycling Union, Johan Eliasch, who heads International Ski Federation, Spaniard Juan Antonio Samaranch, World Athletics president and ex-Olympic champion Sebastian Coe and Morinari Watanabe, president of the International Gymnastics Federation.

Her nearest rival was Samaranch who got 28 votes. There were speculations that Kristy had the backing of outgoing IOC president Thomas Bach of Germany.

“I’m 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 and I am fully aware of my responsibilities as a role model,” Kirsty said post her election. “The future of the Olympic Movement is bright and I can’t wait to get started.”

According to the IOC Charter the new president is elected for an eight-year term and can be re-elected for a four years term, a maximum of 12 years.

During her illustrious sporting career as a swimmer, Kirsty won seven Olympic Games medals, that includes two gold. She was first elected to the IOC Athletes Commission in 2013 and later as an individual member in 2021. She has been Zimbabwe’s minister of sports since September 2018.

Currently, she was an IOC Executive Board member and leading the IOC Commissions and monitoring progress of the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympics and 2032 Brisbane Olympics.