London: On a historic day for the Olympic movement, Kirsty Coventry was elected as the first female and the first African president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in its 130 years of existence.
The 42-year-old former Zimbabwean swimmer is an Olympic champion and sports administrator.
The Harare-born Coventry is the most decorated African Olympian, having won seven medals including 2 gold, and rewritten several world records.
Coventry’s first Olympic medals came at the 2004 Athens Games — gold in 200m backstroke, silver in 100m backstroke and bronze in 200m individual medley. At the 2008 Beijing Games, Coventry retained her 200m backstroke gold, and also bagged three silver medals.
Coventry went into sports administration after retiring from competitive swimming. She served as Zimbabwe’s Minister of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation from 2019.
She was a prominent figure in the IOC, chairing the Athletes’ Commission and playing a crucial role in shaping athlete welfare policies, reported Reuters.
Coventry has committed to making the IOC more inclusive, strengthening ties with National Olympic Committees, and modernising the selection process for future Olympic hosts.
With India showing a serious intent to bid for the 2036 Olympic Games, it will be interesting to follow Coventry’s stint as IOC chief and whether she plays a role in pushing for the world’s most populous country wish to host the world’s biggest sporting extravaganza.