Kirsty Coventry made history as the first woman and the first African elected president of the International Olympic Committee on March 20, 2025. She officially succeeded Thomas Bach on June 23, 2025, after winning in a surprising first round of voting. Coventry secured 49 out of 97 votes, outperforming other candidates. In her speech, she expressed gratitude for the opportunity to inspire younger generations, reminiscing about her Olympic dreams that began in 1992. The youngest president since the IOC's founding in 1894, the former world-class swimmer holds a remarkable Olympic record, marking a significant step for representation in sports leadership.
"In this spirit of gratitude, confidence and joy, I hand over the keys of Olympic House to Mrs Kirsty Coventry, the 10th president of the International Olympic Committee," Bach said.
"I can't believe that in 1992 when I had the dream of going to the Olympic Games and winning a gold medal for Zimbabwe, that I'd be standing here..." Coventry said.
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