On March 20, 2025, former Olympic swimmer Kirsty Coventry made history by becoming the first woman and first African president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in its 130-year history.
Key Facts about Kirsty Coventry
- Age: 41 (10th President of IOC)
- Youngest Since Founder Pierre de Coubertin
- Second Olympic Champion to Lead (After Thomas Bach)
- Former Zimbabwe Sports Minister (Since 2018)
- Term: 8 years
Kirsty Coventry‘s Olympic Legacy
- First-ever Olympic Champion from Zimbabwe (Athens 2004)
- Won multiple medals in swimming, becoming Zimbabwe’s most decorated Olympian
Challenges Ahead
- As she takes over from Thomas Bach, Coventry will need to navigate:
- Global sports governance
- Olympic reforms & financial sustainability
- Geopolitical tensions in sports
(Source: TH)
