By Chantelle Muzanenhamo
Kirsty Coventry, Zimbabwe’s Minister of Youth, Sport, Arts, and Recreation, is making a groundbreaking bid to lead the International Olympic Committee (IOC), aiming to become the first female president in the organization’s 130-year history.
At 41 years old, Coventry is a highly decorated Olympian, having won two gold medals, four silver medals, and a bronze in backstroke and medley events at the Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008 Olympics. Her impressive medal tally remains the best of any Olympian from Africa. Since retiring from competitive swimming, Coventry has transitioned into politics, serving as Zimbabwe’s sports minister since 2018.
Drawing on her extensive experience, Coventry is preparing to run for the IOC presidency, seeking to succeed Thomas Bach, the current president whose term is coming to an end. However, she faces formidable competition from six other candidates for the role.
Among her rivals are England’s Sebastian Coe, the president of World Athletics; Spain’s Juan Antonio Samaranch Salisachs, the current IOC vice-president; Japan’s Morinari Watanabe, president of the International Gymnastics Federation; France’s David Lappartient, president of the International Cycling Union; England’s Johan Eliasch, president of the International Ski and Snowboard Federation; and Prince Feisal Al Hussein from Jordan, a member of the IOC executive board.
“I really felt it was time for Africa now, time for a woman and just time in general,” Coventry told Zimbabwe Sports Hub.
Coventry brings relevant experience in Olympic administration, having been elected chairperson of the IOC Athletes’ Commission in 2018. She also currently serves on the IOC’s executive committee.
The election for the new president will take place during the 144th IOC Session in Athens, Greece, from March 18-21, 2025.