IOC: Zimbabwe's Kirsty Coventry elected first female president (2025-2032)

Kirsty Coventry (ZIM) has been elected president of the International Olympic Committee for an eight-year term (2025-2032) in the first ballot at the 144^th IOC Session held in Costa Navarino, Greece, on 20/03/2025.

Kirsty Coventry, born on 16/09/1983 in Harare (Zimbabwe), succeeds Thomas Bach, who has held the position since his election on 10/09/2013. After an initial eight-year term, the German was re-elected for a second four-year term (in accordance with the IOC Statutes) on 10/03/2021.

"The young girl who first started swimming in Zimbabwe all those years ago could never have dreamt of this moment. I am particularly proud to be the first female IOC president, and also the first from Africa. I hope that this vote will be an inspiration to many people. Glass ceilings have been shattered today, and I am fully aware of my responsibilities as a role model," said Kirsty Coventry.

A two-time Olympic swimming champion (in addition to four silver medals and a bronze, won at the Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008 Games), the Zimbabwean has been an IOC member since 2013, as a member of the…