Olympic gold medalist Kirsty Coventry makes IOC history as first female president

Kirsty Coventry was elected the caller president of the International Olympic Committee Thursday. 

Coventry, 41, becomes the archetypal pistillate and archetypal African named president of the IOC.

"It is simply a awesome that we are genuinely global," Coventry said of her election.

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Kirsty Coventry reacts aft she was announced arsenic the caller IOC president astatine the International Olympic Committee's 144th league successful Costa Navarino, Greece, Thursday, March 20, 2025.  (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

Coventry, a two-time Olympic swimming golden medalist, won successful the archetypal circular of voting among 7 candidates voted connected by 97 IOC members. Coventry gets an eight-year mandate that runs done 2033.

The voters successful the exclusive invited nine of IOC members see royal household members, erstwhile lawmakers and diplomats, concern leaders, sports officials and Olympic athletes.

It was not expected a campaigner would beryllium elected successful the archetypal round. Several rounds were predicted. Coventry received the nonstop bulk of 49 indispensable votes. 

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Kirsty Coventry laughs during a property league aft she was elected the caller IOC president astatine the International Olympic Committee's 144th league successful Costa Navarino, Greece, Thursday, March 20, 2025.  (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

Others successful the moving were 4 presidents of sports governing bodies: Track and field's Sebastian Coe, skiing's Johan Eliasch, cycling’s David Lappartient and gymnastics' Morinari Watanabe. Also contending was Prince Feisal al Hussein of Jordan.

"I volition marque each of you very, precise arrogant and hopefully highly assured successful the determination you person taken," Coventry said successful her acceptance speech. "Now we person got immoderate enactment together."

Coventry was Zimbabwe’s sports minister, and outgoing IOC president Thomas Bach had advocated for her to beryllium his successor. 

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IOC President Thomas Bach holds up the sanction of Kirsty Coventry arsenic she is announced arsenic the caller IOC president astatine the International Olympic Committee's 144th league successful Costa Navarino, Greece, Thursday, March 20, 2025.  (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

Coventry volition formally regenerate her mentor Bach astatine a handover June 23, which is Olympic Day, arsenic the 10th IOC president successful its 131-year history. Bach reached the maximum 12 years successful office.

Coventry won back-to-back titles successful the 200-meter backstroke astatine the 2004 Athens Olympics and successful Beijing 4 years later. She joined the IOC successful 2013, astir 1 twelvemonth aft a disputed jock predetermination astatine the London Olympics.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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