Kirsty Coventry makes history as first female and African to lead the IOC

On 20 March 2025, members of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) convened to select Thomas Bach’s successor — and in a landmark election, Zimbabwean double Olympic champion Kirsty Coventry was elected as the first woman and African to lead the IOC. 

This groundbreaking achievement makes Coventry not only the first person outside of Europe or the USA to hold this prestigious role but also the first female to occupy the position in the IOC's long history.

Here, Catherine Forshaw and William Hardwick explores what this means for the IOC and the future of sport.

What could this mean for the IOC?

The Olympic movement has made notable strides toward gender equality — particularly in advance of Paris 2024, which was hailed as the first ‘gender-equal’ Games. Coventry’s election is another significant milestone in this ongoing journey. Since the IOC's formation in 1894, the position of IOC President has been held by ten men, with nine coming from Europe and one from the US. Coventry's appointment signals a step towards more diverse and inclusive leadership in sports governance.

Six other high-profile candidates competed for the IOC presidency — UCI President David Lappartient (France), FIG President Morinari Watanabe (Japan), FIS President Johan Eliasch (Sweden), Prince Feisal al Hussein (Jordan), IOC Vice-President Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr (Spain) and World Athletics President Lord Sebastian Coe (UK). Many saw Coventry as Thomas Bach’s chosen successor and her victory affirmed that she had the backing to steer the IOC forward.

Reflecting on her historic election, Coventry shared: “I want to show people and women across Africa and the world: ‘Don’t be afraid of anything’. It’s time for women in Africa to stand up and lead in their own way.” She added that her experience in balancing roles as a mother, athlete and minister has uniquely equipped her for the demands of the IOC presidency. In her role as President, Coventry has already pledged to continue promoting gender equality in coaching, administration and leadership across sport. She has fully embraced the African philosophy of Ubuntu — “I am because we are” — which guided her campaign and reflects her collaborative leadership style.

Advancing safeguarding and championing female athletes

As the IOC's first female president, Coventry is particularly focused on enhancing safeguarding measures for mothers in sports. She aims to expand initiatives like the dedicated nursing rooms implemented at Paris 2024. 

Additionally, Coventry has voiced a desire to leverage the Olympic platform to amplify the voices of female athletes who are actively fighting against gender-based violence. This issue has gained heightened attention following the tragic murder of Ugandan long-distance runner Rebecca Cheptegei, which highlighted the ongoing challenges faced by women in sport, particularly in East Africa.

Young yet experienced

At just 41 years old, Coventry is the youngest individual elected to the IOC presidency since Pierre de Coubertin in 1896. Beyond her double Olympic gold medals, she brings more than a decade of experience as a sports administrator. Coventry was first elected to the IOC’s Athletes’ Commission in 2012, becoming a full IOC member in 2013. She has also been a member of the IOC Executive Committee and led key working groups — including the Games Optimisation Working Group, which ensures that the Olympic Games remain sustainable and impactful for host cities, athletes and fans.

Coventry’s involvement with the IOC extended to chairing the coordination commission for the Brisbane 2032 Olympics, leading the bid for the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympics and contributing to the Finance and Olympic Solidarity Commissions. Her broad administrative experience within the IOC and deep understanding of the Games make her well-positioned to lead the global movement.

Beyond sports governance, Coventry has also served as Zimbabwe’s Minister for Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation since 2019, where she worked to improve the country’s sports landscape. Despite the political controversy surrounding Zimbabwe’s leadership, she has defended her position, emphasising her ability to influence reform from within. Under her tenure, Zimbabwe has made notable progress, such as the resurgence of cricket and the successful hosting of a World Cup Qualifier. As Coventry put it, “I don't believe you can really create change if you don't have a seat at the table”.

Coventry’s political experience — combined with her international background and academic tenure in the US — gives her a unique perspective that will aid her in navigating the IOC presidency, a role that requires diplomatic finesse and leadership in an often politically sensitive environment.

A catalyst for change?

Kirsty Coventry's journey — from receiving the Olympic Solidarity Scholarship to study in the US to competing in three Olympic Games and winning two gold medals before becoming an IOC administrator — exemplifies her complete immersion in the Olympic Movement.

She now aims to ensure equal opportunities for women across all levels of the movement, including leadership positions within International Federations. As of 2023, women held only 26.9% of executive positions in International Federations.

Among the 43 current full-member and associate-member sports, only a handful of sports have female presidents, including:

• International Golf Federation — Annika Sorenstam.
• International Table Tennis Federation — Petra Sorling.
• World Triathlon — Marisol Casado.
• World Squash — Zena Woolridge.
• International Ski Mountaineering Federation — Regula Meier.

Coventry's leadership represents a turning point in the history of sports governance and her legacy as IOC President will undoubtedly inspire future generations of female leaders. However, she will face significant challenges, including navigating a complex geopolitical landscape, addressing gender eligibility issues, evaluating the financial rewards for Olympic medallists and overseeing the 2026 Winter Olympics. 

Despite these obstacles, Coventry's historic rise to power already marks a major shift in the world of sport — positioning her as one of the most influential figures in the global sports arena. In becoming the world’s most powerful sports official, Kirsty Coventry has etched her name in the annals of history as a trailblazer in sports leadership and governance.

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