Kirsty Coventry of Zimbabwe has officially taken office as President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), marking a historic milestone as the first woman and the first African to lead the organization in its 131-year history.
Coventry, a seven-time Olympic swimming medalist and former Sports Minister of Zimbabwe, was elected in March 2025 during the IOC’s 144th session in Greece. She secured 49 out of 97 votes in the first round of voting, succeeding Thomas Bach, whose 12-year term ended on June 23.
At the handover ceremony held in Lausanne, Switzerland, Coventry pledged to lead with transparency, unity, and collaboration. “We are stronger when we listen to each other, and when we act together,” she said, outlining her vision for a more inclusive Olympic movement. She has already launched a two-day consultation workshop with IOC members, aiming to gather feedback and shape strategic priorities for her term.
Coventry takes office at a pivotal time for global sports. She inherits a legacy of growing commercial revenues—$7.3 billion in confirmed income for the 2025–2028 cycle—as well as complex geopolitical and social challenges, including the inclusion of Russian and Belarusian athletes and debates over transgender participation in women’s sports.
