Particle.news

Download on the App Store

Kirsty Coventry Elected as First Female and African President of the IOC

Coventry's historic election ushers in a three-month transition period as she prepares to tackle challenges like athlete inclusion and relations with global leaders.

  • Kirsty Coventry, a former Olympic swimmer from Zimbabwe, has been elected as the first female and African president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
  • She will officially assume leadership on June 24, 2025, following a three-month transition with outgoing president Thomas Bach.
  • Coventry has announced plans to form a task force to address transgender athlete inclusion, a contentious issue in global sports.
  • Her presidency will coincide with the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, where she must navigate complex relations with U.S. President Donald Trump and other global leaders.
  • Skepticism surrounds her ability to reform the IOC's governance structure due to her long-standing involvement in its elite system.
Hero image