IOC: Kirsty Coventry, president-elect, welcomed to the headquarters in Lausanne (SUI) on 07/04/2025

"Wow. This is going to be etched in my memory for a long time. I am incredibly humbled to be here. I think as a nine-year-old girl (in 1992, at the time of the Barcelona Games), I did not think I'd ever be standing here," said Kirsty Coventry, born on 16/09/1983 in Harare (ZIM), president-elect of the IOC since 20/03/2025, during her welcome at the headquarters of the International Olympic Committee in Lausanne (Vaud, SUI) on 07/04/2025.

"I did not think I'd ever be getting the opportunity to give back to this Movement and to work with all of you to make sure that other nine-year-olds realise their dreams," added the two-time Zimbabwean Olympic swimming champion.

"Kirsty Coventry was warmly welcomed by IOC president Thomas Bach, IOC director general Christophe De Kepper and IOC staff at Olympic House in Lausanne," said the International Olympic Committee.

The handover between Thomas Bach and Kirsty Coventry is scheduled to take place on International Olympic Day, Monday 23/06/2025.

"I am because we are' is going to be the foundation of everything we do" (K. Coventry, IOC)

• "I'm…