This Thursday (20), in the assembly held in the city of Pilos, Greece, Kirsty Coventry, former Zimbabwe’s former Nadadora, won the absolute majority of the votes in the first round
The former Olympic champion and champion reached a significant milestone in the global sports scene . This achievement is historical, because Coventry is the first woman to occupy this prominent position. With a career full of successes as both an athlete and as a leader, she brings a new perspective to Coi’s leadership. A native of Zimbabwe, Coventry holds seven Olympic medals and stood out as the only woman among the seven presidential candidates, in an election that had the largest number of competitors in 130 years of the organization’s history.
Coventry won the absolute majority of the votes in the first round, a remarkable achievement in a dispute without a clear favorite. Her sports career is marked by participation in five editions of the Olympic Games, having debuted at age 16 in Sydney in 2000. She won her first gold in the 200 meters in Athens in 2004, and reached the two -time championship in Beijing in 2008. After retiring from competitions in 2016, after the Rio de Janeiro Games continued to stand out from the pools, Showing that his influence on sport goes beyond his achievements as an athlete.
In addition to his career as an athlete, Coventry had a successful trajectory as a sports leader. In 2013, while still competing, he was elected to the IOC Athlete Commission, where he represented the athletes’ interests for eight years, including three years as president. In 2018, he assumed the position of Sports Minister of Zimbabwe and, more recently, became a member of the IOC Executive Board. His experience and dedication to sport were fundamental to his election as president of the International Olympic Committee, marking a historic moment for the organization and the African continent.
Coventry’s election as president of the IOC not only highlights its personal trajectory, but also symbolizes a significant advance for female representation in leadership positions in world sport. His vision and commitment to sport development promise to bring new directions and opportunities to the Olympic movement. As one of the most influential figures in world sport, Coventry is prepared to face challenges and continue to promote Olympic values around the world.
*With information from Beatriz Manfredini
*Report produced with the aid of AI
