AIPS ASIA News:

By: Amjad Aziz Malik

Zimbabwean swimmer Kirsty Coventry has made history as the first woman to be elected president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in its 131-year existence. She secured a decisive first-round victory against six other candidates, including Britain’s Sebastian Coe.

Coventry, 41, won 49 out of 97 votes, achieving an outright majority and marking a milestone as the first African to hold the prestigious position. Her triumph also cements her status as the most influential woman in global sports.

Coe, once considered a strong contender, managed only eight votes, finishing third behind Spain’s Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr., who garnered 28 votes. Despite her initially unremarkable manifesto and a slow start to her campaign, Coventry’s bid gained momentum in the final days, aided by strong backing from outgoing IOC president Thomas Bach and senior IOC members.

What was expected to be a prolonged voting process ended swiftly in just two minutes, as the diverse IOC electorate—including royals, former athletes, politicians, and business moguls—overwhelmingly endorsed Coventry.

A brief delay in announcing the results occurred due to technical difficulties with Afghanistan IOC member Samira Asghari’s electronic voting machine. However, when the final tally was confirmed, Coventry, a seven-time Olympic medallist, was visibly elated. She won gold in the 200m backstroke at both the 2004 Athens and 2008 Beijing Games.

Reflecting on her achievement, Coventry expressed gratitude and hope for future generations:

“The young girl who started swimming in Zimbabwe could never have imagined this moment. I am immensely proud to be the first female and African IOC president. I hope this inspires many others.”

She also acknowledged the significance of her win:

“Today, glass ceilings have been broken. I understand the responsibility of being a role model, and I promise to make you all proud. Now, it’s time to get to work together.”

Coe, who had been seen as a frontrunner due to his extensive experience—including two Olympic gold medals and his leadership in organizing the London 2012 Games—fell short in securing widespread support.