Kirsty Covantry made a history of the game by being elected president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in its General Assembly on March 20, 2025. On Monday (June 23, 2025), he also from Outgoing IOC President Thomas Bakh.
“In this feeling of this feeling, confidence and happiness, I hand over the keys of the Olympic House, which hand over the 10th Chairman of the International Olympic Committee to Mrs. Kirsty Covantry,” Bakh said that he entrusted a key to the IOC headquarters in Lusain in Switzari for Cooperative.
Thus, Zimbabwe became the first woman and the first person in Africa to hold the top job in the organization.
“Now she makes history,” said Bakh.
“I can’t believe that in 1992 when I had a dream of going to the Olympic Games and winning a gold medal for Zimbabwe, I would stand here with all of you, TRAI Dreams are getting to make true youth around the world,” Coventry said in his speech that you can like to keep the IOC during IOC. ,
Back in March, Covantry achieved 49 out of 97 potential votes, winning a job in just one round of voting and surprised many people. Juan Antonio Samrahan Junior won 28, while World Athletics chief Sabstian Koi earned eight votes.
Coventry is the youngest President since Pierre de Kubertin, the founder father of the modern Olympic Games. The French founded the IOC in 1894 and conducted the President after two years at the age of 33. Former world -class swimmer of Zimbabwe, Covantry is 41 years old.
Africa’s most successful woman Olympics
At the age of 20, he made his Olympic dream come true. At the 2004 Games at Athens, Covantry won a gold medal in 200m backstroke. Four years later, in Beijing in 2008, he won the gold again. Apart from those two gold medals, he collected four Olympic silver medals and a bronze. This covantry makes Africa’s most successful female Olympics ever. The Olympics have more success in the Olympics, the only African Ethiopia’s long -lasting runner is Thirunesh Dibaba, who are three gold medals (and two bronze).
By the time the Covantry finished her career, she remained in five Olympics, broke several world records and was one of the best world championship career of all time.
Unison
Writing on LinkedIn, Covantry said that his success was more important that its symbol.
“However, none of these is as important as what this success makes and can do for others. It can unite my country where divisions were crippling it due to economic and political upheaval, and it gave hopes to people that prevent situations from following their dreams.”
Still an active swimmer, Coventry was selected for the Commission of IOC athletes in 2013. He re -presented the interests of athletes including three to the interests of athletes. Recently, she has been a member of the IOC Executive Board.
For African Olympic hosts?
Zimbabwe’s inkrat influence has expected in Africa that the Summer Olympic son may probably be hosted on the African continent for the first time.
Although South Africa and Egypt have expressed their interest, Covantry has fulfilled such expectations.
“Interest is there and now we need all the thesis working with the country so that they fully understand the magnitude of the Olympic Games,” he said.
The countries of Africa, Coventry, said in a Q&A session organized by the International Sports Press Association (AIPS), “From the point of view of the African Union, how we really develop strategically through Africa Games, which can be then.
Covantry knows from experience how difficult political processes can be discovered. She has been the minister of Zimbabwe’s Sport Sion 2018, said that she now definitely uses it as an athlete compared to a thick skin.
Diplomatic on controversial issues
Asked if they feel that Trans women should be allowed to compete in women’s competitions, she was clear.
“100% This is necessary to find a solution,” the covantry said. “I think we want to take the role of a leadership a little more as IOC.”
Zimbabwe, so avoid going too far on one organ on another warm subject before IOC election: the possibility of Russian and Belarusi athletes competing in the Olympics.
He said, “I think it is our duty to ensure that all athletes can participate in the games,” he said. “This is going to look different for many different athletes, but at the end of the day I believe that we need to find a holistic way to be unhappy with athletes from the struggle areas.”
She was competing for Zimbabwe in the light of her experience, when the country was in political upheaval and under international sanctions.
“It can be very easy for the international community that we do not allow to participate. I see (this) and say what is my life today?
A lot to fight for equality
Kiraty Coventry is not only a sports administrator and politician, but a mother. They have two daughters, one six years old and one was born under six months ago.
Covantry said about her elder daughter, “When she was one year old, she was already in 10 different countries,” Coventry said about her elder daughter.
“I have an incredible network of support from my husband and family. This is a common way for us. I think it is a good way to show that are capable like men, even if we expect full -time, wives, daughters etc.”
“We still have a lot of work to do, and I am excited about pushing this movement,” Coventry said about gender equality. “Women are ready to lead. I see it as an opportunity to push it through boundaries so that my two girls can grow up, they do not have the same limits.”
The Covantry will handle the office on June 24, 2025, which will be held a day after the end of the tenure of IOC President Thomas Bakh.
This article was published in German on March 17, 2023. It has been updated to reflect the result of IOC presidential election on 20 March, 2025 and reflect his opening as IOC President on 23 June 2025.
Edited by: Jonathan Harding
