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.